Learning

Learning

1. • Learning- A process that results in a relatively permanent change in behavior or behavior potential (attitude/values) and is based on experience.

   • • John Watson- behaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rats
     • • little albert- subject in John Watson's experiment, proved classical conditioning principles, especially the generalization of fear
     • • Rosalie Rayner- graduate student of Watson and co-researcher for the famous Little Albert demonstration of classically conditioned emotion
   • • Behaviorism- The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not (2).
   • • Albert Bandura- researcher famous for work in observational or social learning including the famous Bobo doll experiment
   • • Habituation- A decline in response to stimuli that have become familiar through repeated exposure.

2. • Classical conditioning- An initially neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus so that a neutral stimulus respond

   • • Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)- In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers a response.
   • • Unconditioned response (UCR)- In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (UCS),
   • • Conditioned response (CR)- In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulus.
   • • Conditioned stimulus (CS)- In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), .
   • • Acquisition- The initial stage in classical conditioning
   • • Extinction- The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS);
   • • Discrimination- In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.
   • • Generalization- The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.
   • • Learned helplessness- The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

3. • Operant conditioning- A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

   • • Edward Thorndike- Pioneer in operant conditioning who discovered concepts in intstrumental learning such as the law of effect.
     • • Law of effect- Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
   • • B.F. Skinner- pioneer of operant conditioning who believed that everything we do is determined by our past history of rewards and punishments.
     • • Operant chamber (Skinner box)- A chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforce.
       • • Positive Reinforcement- something desirable is added that increases the occurrence of the behavior
       • • Negative Reinforcement- something undesirable is taken away causing an increase in behavior
       • • Reinforcer- In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.
         • • primary reinforcer- an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.
       • • Stanley Milgram- teacher applying electric shocks to a subject that answers incorrectly, obedience to authority figures
       • • Ivan Pavlov- Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)
       • punishment- an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.
   • • Shaping- An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of a desired goal.
   • • Spontaneous recovery- The reappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished conditioned response.
   • • Shaping- An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of a desired goal.
   • Operant Schedules
     • fixed-ratio schedule- in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.
     • variable-ratio schedule- in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.
     • fixed interval schedule- in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.
     • variable-interval schedule- in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.