Classical Conditioning and Learning Psychology

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is learning defined as?

Relatively permanent changes in behavior resulting from practice or experience (correct)

Temporary changes in behavior resulting from practice or experience

A type of conditioning that involves punishment

Inborn behaviors that emerge during certain periods

What is the term for a stimulus that elicits a reflexive response?

Neutral stimulus

Unconditioned stimulus (correct)

Conditioned stimulus

Reflexive stimulus

What is the conditioned response in classical conditioning?

The natural response to the neutral stimulus

The learned response to the unconditioned stimulus

The response to the conditioned stimulus (correct)

The response to the unconditioned stimulus

What type of reinforcement occurs when reinforcement is provided after every response?

Continuous reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of losing a conditioned response?

Extinction Signup and view all the answers

What is the type of conditioning that involves rewards or punishments?

Operant Conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of shaping?

To reward successive approximations towards a final goal Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for any procedure that increases the response?

Reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?

Positive punishment presents a stimulus, while negative punishment removes a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of biofeedback?

To provide feedback and control of autonomic nervous system function Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of conditioning of emotional responses?

Little Albert study Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a stimulus that is naturally paired with an unconditioned response?

Unconditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What type of reinforcement schedule is more resistant to extinction?

Partial reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a response that is voluntary and associated with cues in the environment?

Operant response Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a partial reinforcement schedule?

Reinforcement after every 3 responses Signup and view all the answers

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responsible for?

Involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for any procedure that decreases the response?

Punishment Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between fixed and variable reinforcement schedules?

Fixed schedules have a set interval, while variable schedules have a random interval Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning

Learning refers to relatively permanent changes in behavior resulting from practice or experience
Innate behaviors are inborn, emerge during certain periods, and are not the result of learning

Classical Conditioning

Certain stimuli can elicit a reflexive response (e.g., air puff >> eye-blink, smelling food >> salivation)
Key terms:
- CS (Conditioned Stimulus)
- UCS (Unconditioned Stimulus)
- CR (Conditioned Response)
- UCR (Unconditioned Response)
The reflexive stimulus (UCS) and response (UCR) are unconditioned
The neutral stimulus is referred to as the conditioned stimulus (CS)
In classical conditioning, the CS is repeatedly paired with the reflexive stimulus (UCS)
Eventually, the CS will produce a response (CR) similar to that produced by the UCS

Pavlov's Experiment

Conditioning of emotional responses (e.g., John Watson's Little Albert study)
- CS: a white rat
- UCS: a loud banging sound
- UCR: fear/startle response
- Eventually, Albert exhibited fear to the white rat

Other Instances of Learning

Positive conditioning: attraction in advertising (e.g., brand name + attractive model => liking)
Negative conditioning: aversion (e.g., flavor + illness => flavor aversion)

Extinction

Pairings of the CS and UCS lead to conditioning, whereas presentation of the CS only leads to loss of the conditioned response
Extinction refers to loss of response to a CS presented without the UCS
Extinction is not forgetting
Extinction is useful in clinical situations (e.g., extinction of a phobia can be treated by exposure to the CS only)

Operant/Skinnerian Conditioning

Organisms make responses that have consequences (e.g., punishment, reinforcement)
The response can be associated with cues in the environment (e.g., putting coins in a machine to obtain food)
Key aspects of operant conditioning:
- In operant conditioning, the stimulus is a cue, it does not elicit the response
- Operant responses are voluntary
- In operant conditioning, the response elicits a reinforcing stimulus

Key Terms of Operant Conditioning

Reinforcement: any procedure that increases the response
Punishment: any procedure that decreases the response
Types of reinforcers:
- Primary: e.g., food or water
- Secondary: e.g., money or power

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous: reinforcement occurs after every response (produces rapid acquisition and is subject to rapid extinction)
Partial: reinforcement occurs after some, but not all, responses (responding is more resistant to extinction)

Partial Reinforcement Schedules

Ratio: every nth response is reinforced (e.g., fixed or variable ratio)
Interval: first response after some interval results in reinforcement (e.g., fixed or variable interval)

Shaping

Shaping: rewarding successive approximations towards the final goal
Used often in phobias (e.g., fear of snakes)

Punishment

Positive Punishment: presenting a stimulus that leads to a lowered likelihood for a response to occur in the future
Negative Punishment: removing a stimulus that leads to a lowered likelihood for a response to occur in the future

Biofeedback

Feedback allows for control of responses
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not provide sufficient sensory feedback to the brain to allow for conscious control
Biofeedback uses electronic devices to provide feedback and control of ANS function (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure)

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Learn about the key concepts of classical conditioning, including conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses, and how they relate to learning and behavior.