define learning
experience that results in relatively permanent change in the state of the learner
why is the ability to learn related to evolution
- Advantageous behaviours more likely to survive and reproduce
-Favours individuals learning advantageous behaviours
why is learning beneficial to human problems
- If a problem is learnt it can be unlearnt
- Understanding how learning works allows us to tackle problems
-Behaviour modification
what are the benefits of using animals to produce general laws
- Control of past experience
- Control of genotype - single strains
Control and punishment - unethical in humans
what is non-associative learning
The result of mere exposure to a stimulus
what is associative learning
Requires the association between the exposure to a stimulus with some form of consequence
explain exposure and liking
Non-associative - repeated, unreinforced exposure to a stimulus is sufficient to enhance attitudes towards it (mere exposure effect)
explain imprinting
Non-associative - following response, to first object seen
explain habituation
Non-associative - a learning process that produces a decremental response to repeated stimuli
explain song-learning
Non-associative -neural templates for learning and exposure to adult songs
explain observational learning
non-associative - learning by watching other individuals e.g. Bandura
Example of habituation - Owen and Perril
- Male frogs territorial but manage with low levels of aggression
Save interaction for strangers - would be a waste of energy
Observational learning in primates
- Macaque individual began to wash food
- Now common practice for many of the species
how do we know there are other contexts of learning
- Many things are remembered and later recalled or recognised
- Without association of stimuli
-Without obvious reinforcement
Difference between classical and operant conditioning
Classical conditioning - Event in environment = Other event in environment of consequence to individual
Operant conditioning - Action by individual = Consequence for individual
Unconditioned stimulus
Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism
Unconditioned response
A reflexive reaction that is reliably elicited by an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
A stimulus that does not produce the response that is eventually conditioned by pairing with a US
Conditioned response
A reaction to a conditioned stimulus produced by pairing it with a US
what is the functional view of classical conditioning
- Salivation is adaptive - lubricates food and digestive enzymes
- Digestion is faster when food preceded by CS
classical conditioning applied to Little Albert study
inducing a phobia
Reactions of fear when loud noise associated with white rat, although initially not afraid
ethical issues of the little albert study
- Son of wetnurse - only paid 1 dollar for participation
- Watson never deconditioned child
Acquisition
The phase of CC when the CS & US are presented together
Second-order conditioning
Conditioning where the US is a stimulus that acquired its ability to produce learning from an earlier procedure in which it was used as a CS
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Principles of evolution, genetics and behavioural development37
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Genes and the environment34
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Principles of behavioural development41
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Learning46
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Learning continued19
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Animal intelligence and language28
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Motivation, competition and kin selection23
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sex and life histories33
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social life33
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our place in nature29
