general info
what is learning?
the process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in an organism's behaviour or capabilities
define classical conditioning
type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response previously evoked by another stimulus
define operant conditioning
type of learning in which behaviour is controlled by its consequences
define observational learning
when an organism's behaviour is influenced by observing others (models)
what is a token economy?
what movement focuses on the study of observable behaviours, rather than introspective methods of research?
behaviourism
learned response to a specific stimulus responds the same way to similar stimuli
stimulus generalization
define a variable interval schedule of reinforcement
reinforcement of a behaviour is given after a variable length of time
what are the basic processes of observational learning?
attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
acquisition (attention + retention)
performance (reproduction + motivation)
species-specific predisposition to be conditioned in certain ways
preparedness
what is latent learning?
learning that is not apparent from behaviour when it first occurs
evaluative conditioning - changes in the liking of a stimulus from pairing it with another positive or negative stimulus
extinction takes longer for variable schedules (specifically variable ratio) because reinforcement is less predictable --> why gambling is so addictive
what are mirror neurons
neurons activated by performing an action or watching another perform that same action
define the conditioned stimulus
a previously neutral stimulus that evokes a conditioned response because of conditioning
define phobias
irrational fears of specific objects or situations
what is an unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response
define Thorndike's Law of Effect
if a response in the presence of stimulus leads to satisfying effects, association between the stimulus and response is strengthened
in the bobo doll experiment, if a child watched an adult rewarded for violence, what were they more likely to do?
perform violent acts
what is higher order conditioning?
a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus
the theory that nothing is innate, humans are born with no mental content, and all knowledge is from experience
tabula rasa
what is stimulus continuity
stimuli are contiguous if they occur together in time and space
define the four types of consequence structures: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment
PR - beh. strengthened by adding reward
NR - beh. strenghtened by taking away aversive
PP - beh. weakened by adding aversive
NP - beh. weakened by taking away reward
this learning theory combines the behavioural learning approach with the scientific method to modify behaviour with a particular environment
applied behaviour analysis
what is conditioned taste aversion? label the CR, CS, UCS
taste or smell becomes repulsive (CR) after pairing food (CS) with a toxin or illness (UCS)