PSYU2236 W 11 | Aversive Control and Cognitive Theory

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Questions and Answers

Which form of punishment is generally preferred due to its reduced likelihood of harmful side effects?

Primary punishment

Positive punishment

Secondary punishment

Negative punishment (correct)

What is typically more effective when applying punishment to modify behavior?

An explanation accompanying the punishment (correct)

A mild punishment without further details

Random reinforcement afterwards

No explanation given

What does punishment primarily produce in response to a behavior according to the conditioned suppression account?

Increased motivation for the behavior

An emotional response (correct)

Changed environment

Weakened behavior directly

What is an example of negative punishment?

Losing privileges for poor behavior Signup and view all the answers

In the experiment conducted by Skinner, what was the effect of an initial punishment on the rats' behavior?

They avoided pressing the lever out of fear Signup and view all the answers

Combining punishment for inappropriate behavior with reinforcement for appropriate behavior is recommended for what reason?

To enhance overall behavior modification effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the principle of aversive control?

It focuses on controlling behavior through the use of unpleasant stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when mild punishment is used instead of a more intense punishment to modify behavior?

It often has minimal or no effect on the unwanted behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary method used to assess the extinction of avoidance behavior in the control group?

Allowing them to jump over the barrier Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the effect of longer durations of conditioned stimulus exposure on rats?

It increases the extinction rate of avoidance behavior. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the cognitive theory of avoidance, what role does fear play?

It has a minor role in explaining avoidance responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about control over the conditioned stimulus in relation to learning outcomes?

It enables the formation of expectations regarding control over outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

How does response prevention impact the extinction of avoidance behavior?

It reduces avoidance responding more effectively over time. Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of presenting a stimulus previously paired with shock in the Rescorla and LoLordo experiment?

It doubled the subjects' rate of responding. Signup and view all the answers

What key factor is identified as critical in the cognitive theory of avoidance regarding the change in expectancy?

The duration of delay between stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of aversive control, what is a potential consequence of effective avoidance behavior?

A reduction in fear over time. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the CS+ have on the avoidance response in dogs during the conditioning trials?

It amplifies the avoidance response Signup and view all the answers

According to cognitive theory, what influences an animal's decision to jump over the barrier to avoid shock?

Expectations that respond will lead to no shock Signup and view all the answers

How does the CS- impact avoidance behaviors in dogs during training?

It reduces the rate of avoidance responding Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of conditioned stimuli (CS) in avoidance learning?

They acquire drive properties influencing avoidance responses Signup and view all the answers

The cognitive theory of avoidance emphasizes memory formation as a basis for learning. Which aspect of this is critical?

Expectations about the consequences of actions Signup and view all the answers

In Rescorla & LoLordo's experiments, what was a key observation regarding the paired stimuli and response rate?

The CS+ increased response rates while CS- substantially decreased them Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of avoidance learning differs according to cognitive theory compared to traditional views?

It focuses on learned expectations rather than fear Signup and view all the answers

What is implied about the relationship between CSs and fear responses in dogs based on the studies?

CSs have a complex role in mediating responses involving fear and avoidance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Aversiv Control and Avoidance

Rats that could control the termination of the conditioned stimulus (CS) showed faster extinction of avoidance behavior.
Longer durations of CS exposure without the shock led to more rapid extinction of the avoidance behavior.
The combination of longer CS exposure and the ability to control its termination was the most effective in extinguishing avoidance behavior.

Cognitive Theory of Avoidance

Cognitive theory states that avoidance responding is based on expectations rather than fear.
During initial training, subjects form an expectation that shock will occur when the warning stimulus is presented.
When the animal avoids the shock by jumping over the barrier, a new expectation forms (shock does not occur if the response is made.)
The subject recalls both expectations and chooses the response that avoids the shock.

Rescorla & LoLordo Experiment

During the experiment, dogs were given discriminative fear conditioning trials.
One tone (CS+) was followed by shock, and another tone (CS-) was not.
When the CS+ was presented, the rate of jumping doubled.
When the CS- was presented, the rate of responding fell to almost zero.

Punishment and Conditioned Suppression

Punishment does not directly weaken behavior, but instead produces an emotional response that interferes with the behavior.
This emotional response can be caused by fear or other negative emotions.
The punished behavior is replaced by an emotional response or another behavior that interferes with the original behavior.

Negative Punishment

Negative punishment is generally preferable to positive punishment because it is less likely to produce harmful side effects.
It is also more effective when accompanied by an explanation.
Punishment of inappropriate behavior should be combined with positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior.

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Description

Test your understanding of aversive control and cognitive theory of avoidance. This quiz covers key experiments and findings related to avoidance behavior, including the impact of control and expectations in conditioning. Explore the Rescorla & LoLordo experiment and deepen your grasp of these psychological concepts.