What is negative reinforcement?
removal of an aversive stimulus to increase responding
Explain the avoidance paradox - singled avoidance task
- introduction of a warning signal = tone (which can be used as a predictor of the shock to fully avoid)
- -> animal will continue to jump back and forth after hearing the tone (without ever being shocked)
Explain the 2 factor theory (O. Hobart Mowrer)
- Pavlovian fear conditioning
- shock (US) –> fear (UR)
- tone (CS) – shock (US)
- tone (CS) –> fear (CR) - Reinforcement through fear reduction
- tone (CR) –> fear (CR)
- avoidance response –> termination of tone (CS) = reduction of fear (CR)
Explain the Sidman Avoidance Task
- can dear motivate avoidance???
Discriminative fear conditioning:
CS1 –> shock
CS2 –> no shock
- different context –> produce state of fear to CS
- tone –>fear
Test the effect of CS1 and CS2 on avoidance responding:
- state of conditioned fear is very effective at enhancing/producing/fuelling avoidance behaviour
Can escape from fear serve as a reinforcer???
Group 1: light/tone –> shock
Group 2: light/tone –> no shock
Test: light/tone presented and rat can terminate it by jumping (and they do)
- escape from fear/reduction of fear = reinforcing
What are two problems associated with the two factor theory?
- the response problem
2. the fearless problem
Explain the response problem associated with the two factor theory
Species specific defence reactions (SSDR) - innate responses:
- if rat has no escape –> freeze
- if cornered –> fight
- if escape is possible –> flight and run for cover
Int he presence of CS+ the rat will innately run (not a learned response)
Explain the fearless problem associated with the two factor theory
Behavioural observations suggest that the animal avoided without fear
- the shock was removed but extinction did not occur
- initially not fearful –> fearful –> not fearful
Cognitive analysis of the avoidance response
Avoidance is based on the expectation to avoid shock
- fear is important initially but then it extinguishes = conditioned suppression response
- response extinction does not occur because animal cannot change its expectations
What is flooding?
Response prevention
What is positive punishment?
presentation of an aversive stimulus to decrease behaviour
Is punishment effective?
- only works for a short period of time (but happens immediately)
- interaction between punishment and who delivers it (first thing learned = particular context)
Principles regarding punishment
- Intensity
- at beginning, must be effective (if not, opportunity may be ruined) - Delay
- must occur immediately after response - Schedule
- must be continuous - Stimulus control
- particular people become the punishers - Verbal explanation
Side effects of punishment
- fear/anxiety
- reduced interest (learned aversion for behaviour)
- impaired attention
- aggression (pain elicited or modelling)
- learned helplessness
Explain learned helplessness
Previous experience with inescapable shock causes a profound deficit in subsequent escape learning
Advantages to aversion therapy
A form of behaviour therapy
Disadvantages to aversion therapy
- dangerous
- preparedness (instinct behaviours)
- stimulus control
- ineffective
What type of therapy is relapse prevention?
cognitive behavioural therapy
- thoughts/feelings
- behaviour
Escape and avoidance are forms of?
negative reinforcement
Which of the following is false about avoidance behaviour?
- it is easy to extinguish response
- it is activated and enhanced by fear
- it reduces fear
- reduction of fear is reinforcing
It is easy to extinguish the response
Which of the following is a problem of the two factor theory of avoidance?
Animals do not appear to display fear
Is punishment effective?
yes, but not for long
Which of the following is true about the effectiveness of punishment?
delay between the response and punishment - small is best
in learned helplessness?
subjects do not avoid escapable shock
