Psychology Chapter 8 Objectives 10-17 Flashcards

Study Notes

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

Classical conditioning involves learning associations between involuntary responses and stimuli, while operant conditioning involves associations between voluntary behavior and consequences.
Respondent behavior (classical) is automatic, whereas operant behavior (operant) affects the environment.

Thorndike's Law of Effect

States that behaviors followed by rewards are likely to be repeated.
Skinner built upon this law, exploring operant conditioning principles to study learning processes.

Shaping Procedure

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior.
This method highlights the learning capacity in nonverbal animals and infants by revealing their discriminative responses.

Reinforcement Types

Positive reinforcement introduces a favorable outcome to increase behavior frequency, while negative reinforcement removes an unfavorable element to encourage behavior.
Primary reinforcers satisfy basic needs (e.g., food), whereas conditioned reinforcers gain value through association (e.g., money).
Immediate reinforcers provide instant gratification; delayed reinforcers require patience (e.g., a paycheck).

Reinforcement Schedules

Continuous reinforcement leads to rapid learning but also quick extinction if rewards stop.
Partial reinforcement results in slower learning but increased resistance to extinction; includes:
- Fixed-ratio: Rewards after a set number of responses.
- Variable-ratio: Rewards after an unpredictable number of responses.
- Fixed-interval: Rewards after set time periods.
- Variable-interval: Rewards after unpredictable time spans.

Punishment vs. Reinforcement

Positive punishment applies an undesired consequence to reduce behavior; negative punishment withdraws a desired element.
Negative reinforcement increases behavior frequency by removing undesirable factors.
Drawbacks of punishment include suppression of behavior rather than change, potential for aggression, fostering fear, and resulting in feelings of helplessness.

Latent Learning

Demonstrates that learning can occur without immediate reinforcement, as observed in rats creating cognitive maps and children imitating behavior later.
External rewards can diminish intrinsic motivation, challenging the notion that rewards always increase behavior frequency.

Biological Constraints in Learning

Organisms have innate predispositions for learning behaviors that enhance survival.
Training that contradicts these natural tendencies is often ineffective, as animals revert to instinctual patterns.

Description

Test your understanding of key concepts in psychology's Chapter 8 with these flashcards. Focus on objectives 10 through 17, which explore the differences between classical and operant conditioning. Perfect for reinforcing your knowledge and preparing for exams.