16 Questions
What is the primary focus of the behaviorist approach to learning?
Interaction with the environment
What was the name of the Russian physiologist who first described classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
What is the term for the strengthening of neurons that are firing together in classical conditioning?
Long-Term Potentiation
In the 'Little Albert' experiment, what was the neutral stimulus (NS)?
The white lab rat
What is the main difference between an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned stimulus?
The natural response elicited by the stimulus
What is the term for the type of learning where the likelihood of a behavior is determined by its consequences?
Operant Conditioning
What was the outcome of the 'Little Albert' experiment?
Albert developed a fear response to the white lab rat and other similar stimuli
What is the primary difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
The role of consequences in the learning process
What is an operant, according to the operant conditioning theory?
A response that occurs without any stimulus
What is the main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
One is a response to a stimulus, and the other is not
What is the term for the stimulus, situation, or circumstance that leads to a behaviour?
Antecedent
What happens when a consequence is pleasant?
The response is more likely to be repeated
What is the term for the addition of a desirable stimulus to increase a behaviour?
Positive reinforcement
What is an example of observational learning?
A child watching a parent and imitating their behaviour
What is the first stage of observational learning?
Attention
What is the purpose of positive punishment?
To decrease a behaviour
Study Notes
Classical Conditioning
- Classical Conditioning is a three-phase process that involves developing a learned association with a stimulus (or stimuli) and an unconscious response.
- It was first described by Ivan Pavlov in 1899.
- Classical Conditioning is a type of learning that happens unconsciously and involuntarily.
Stages of Classical Conditioning
- There are three stages that describe the process of classical conditioning:
- Neutral stimulus (NS): does not naturally cause a reflex response.
- Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): naturally causes a reflex response.
- Unconditioned response (UCR): an involuntary reflex response that is not learned.
Key Concepts
- Conditioned response (CR): a reflex response that our bodies learn to produce to a stimulus that would not naturally cause it.
- Conditioned stimulus (CS): a stimulus that would not naturally cause a reflex response, but is learned to produce one through association with the UCS.
The 'Little Albert' Experiment
- The experiment involved placing a child, Albert, in a room with a white lab rat (NS) and striking a hammer on a steel bar behind him (loud noise, UCS) to create a fear response.
- Albert began to fear the white lab rat, as well as other white, fluffy objects, demonstrating the process of classical conditioning.
Operant Conditioning
- Operant conditioning is a learning process in which the likelihood of a particular behavior occurring is determined by the consequences of that behavior.
- If the consequences are desirable, behavior is likely to be repeated. If the consequences are undesirable, behavior is not likely to be repeated.
ABCs of Operant Conditioning
- A - Antecedent: the stimulus, situation, or circumstance to which a behavior occurs.
- B - Behavior: the response that has occurred.
- C - Consequences: the result of the behavior or response.
Types of Reinforcement
- Positive reinforcement: the addition of a desirable stimulus to increase behavior.
- Positive punishment: the addition of an undesirable stimulus to reduce behavior.
- Negative punishment (response cost): the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease behavior.
- Negative reinforcement: the removal of an undesirable stimulus to increase behavior.
Observational Learning
- Observational learning is a socio-cognitive approach to learning that involves watching the behavior of a model and the associated consequence of that behavior.
- Stages of observational learning: attention, retention, and reproduction.
Learn about classical conditioning, a type of learning that happens unconsciously and involuntarily, as described by Ivan Pavlov in 1899. Discover the three stages of this process and how it relates to behaviorism.
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