Learning & Memory: Conditioning, Observational Learning & Memory Processes - Prof. Patrici, Study notes of Psychology

Download Learning & Memory: Conditioning, Observational Learning & Memory Processes - Prof. Patrici and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! MODULE 21 Associative learning – learning that certain events (two stimuli, in classical conditioning) occur together Classical conditioning – a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent condition Learning – a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience 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). Unconditioned response (UR) – in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth Unconditioned stimulus (US) – in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally – naturally and automatically – triggers a response Conditioned response (CR) – in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus Conditioned stimulus (CS) – in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response Acquisition – the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response Extinction – the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when a US does not follow a CS Spontaneous recovery – the reappearance, after a pause (sometimes hrs) of an extinguished CR Generalization – the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses Discrimination – in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish b/w a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus MODULE 22 Associative learning – learning that certain events (a response and its consequences in operant conditioning) occur together Operant conditioning – a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or diminished if followed by a punisher Respondent behavior – behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner’s term for behavior learned through classical conditioning Operant behavior – behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences 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 Operant chamber – a chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforce, with attached devices to record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking; used in operant conditioning research Learning – a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience Shaping – an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior Reinforcement – in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows (increases that behavior) Positive reinforcement – increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food; a positive reinforce is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response Negative reinforcement – increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock; a negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response Primary reinforcer – an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need Conditioned (secondary) reinforcer – a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforce Continuous reinforcement – reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs Partial (intermittent) reinforcement – reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement FOUR SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT: 1) Fixed-ratio schedule – in operant conditioning (OC), a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses 2) Variable-ratio schedule – in OC, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses 3) Fixed-interval schedule – in OC, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed 4) Variable-interval schedule – in OC, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals Punishment – an event that decreases the behavior that follows