How do drug overdoses involve operant and classical conditioning? Use correct terminology to explain.
Heavy drug users participate in classical conditioning without even realising it. When they first use the drug, it is the unconditioned stimulus as it produces an unconditioned response without any learning needing to happen. The unconditioned response would be an increased heart rate, pupils dilating, etc. Typically, drug users will inject in the same location. In doing this, an association is learned between the location and the drug. The location, previously neutral becomes associated with the drug. So, eventually, the user’s body will begin to respond to the drug before they use it if they are in the same location. Overdoses occur when they go to use the same amount of drug that their body is accustomed to in their normal location, somewhere else. Their body isn’t prepared and is overwhelmed by something that was previously okay. (The location had become the conditioned stimulus.
What is classical conditioning?
When a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response; first studied by Ivan Pavlov.
What is operant conditioning?
A type of learning in which the consequences of an organisms’ behaviour determine whether it will be repeated in the future. (A lot of the research for this topic was conducted on animals)
Why is the drug issue in Canada so puzzling?
The victims are people who experienced drug users, the dose taken is not usually larger than what they usually take, and the deaths tend to occur in unusual settings.
How is operant conditioning related to the drug overdose problem?
When users take drugs, they experience a high that makes them want to take it again.
How does escape learning demonstrate operant and classical conditioning?
Operant conditioning connection: Organisms learn that escaping the box a certain way stops the shocking. This reinforces the behaviour and makes them keep doing it.
Classical conditioning connection: When in the box at first, the animal would just be shocked. But, after a few trials, researchers would play a tone or flash a light before they delivered the shock. The animal starts to associate the tone/light with the shock. (NS - CS)
What is escape learning?
Escape learning is when you perform a behaviour to get away from something unpleasant.
Explain the escape learning (shuttlebox) experiments)
Little animals would be put in a box with a floor that was electrified. There would be a barricade (or a way for them to escape) and when they used this method, the shock would stop.
What is reinforcement?
It is any stimulus or event that increases the likelihood of the behaviour that led to it.
What is punishment?
It is any stimulus or event that decreases the likelihood of the behaviour that led to it.
Explain the two types of reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement: The stimulus is presented. For example, parents would buy a teen a new car as a reward for safe driving.
Negative reinforcement: The stimulus is removed. Parents reduce restrictions on where the teen can drive as a reward for safe driving.
- Or an aversive stimulus would be used. The reinforcement is that the behaviour causes the aversive stimulus to be removed.
Explain the two types of punishment.
Positive punishment: The stimulus is presented. Parents assign difficult new chores after teen is stopped for speeding.
Negative punishment: The stimulus is removed. Parents suspend driving privileges after teen is stopped for speeding.
Why is punishment a poor teaching/training method?
Decreases all sorts of behaviours - not just target behaviour
Corporal punishment often leads to poor parent-child relationship
Corporal punishment leads to more child aggression
Corporal punishment leads to increased delinquency
Corporal punishment is associated with an increase in behavioural problems in young children.
Child abuse can be falsely represented as discipline. (There is a fine line between the two)
What is the main difference between punishment and reinforcement?
Reinforcement - Repeat it. (Its aim is to increase the target behaviour)
Punishment - Stop it. (Its aim is to decrease the target behaviour)
Positive = adding something
Negative = taking something away.
(Maybe think of some examples if this isn’t clicking)
How is mosquito technology used?
It is an example of punishment using an aversive stimulus. It is usually used as a security measure to keep people away. It is a loud noise - the pitch can vary depending on the target audience. - that is unpleasant to listen to. People stay away from it because the sound is unpleasant to listen to. This is an example of negative reinforcement as students will move away from the sound, so they can’t hear it, reinforcing their behaviour.
What is shaping?
This is learning that results from the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behaviour. (Example: Teaching a dog to sit very slowly, or Skinner teaching Agnes to jump)
What is intermittent reinforcement?
An operant conditioning principle whereby only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement. (Is best used after the response is already learned)
What is the intermittent reinforcement effect?
The fact that operant behaviours that are maintained under intermittent reinforcement schedules resist extinction better than those maintained under continuous reinforcement.
What is continuous reinforcement?
This is when a behaviour is reinforced every single time it happens. (This type of reinforcement is important for learning the response)
What are ratio schedules?
They are a type of intermittent reinforcement that focus on how many times a behaviour occurs before reinforcing it.
Fixed-ratio schedule
Reinforcement is delivered after certain number of responses have been made. (Workers sewing a certain number of shirts in a factory)
Variable ratio schedule
The delivery of reinforcement is based on a particular average number of responses. (Slot machines)
Interval schedules
Reinforce behaviour based on the passage of time, not behaviour
Fixed-interval schedule
Reinforcement occurs after a set amount of time, as long as the target behaviour occurs once. (Getting paid every two weeks as long as you work)
