Psychology Learning Theories Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is Learning?

Gaining new knowledge or skills (correct)

A mental process

The way we act

An unpleasant stimulus

What does Cognition refer to?

Behavior patterns

A type of learning

All mental processes such as thinking, learning, and memory (correct)

Gaining new knowledge

What is Behaviour?

The way we act

What does Conditioned mean?

Learned Signup and view all the answers

What is Classical Conditioning?

Learning by association Signup and view all the answers

What is a Stimulus?

Event which leads to a response Signup and view all the answers

What is a Response?

Event which follows a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What does Association mean in classical conditioning?

When a connection is made between two stimuli or between a stimulus and a response Signup and view all the answers

What is a Reflex?

Any response to a stimulus that occurs naturally Signup and view all the answers

Who is Pavlov?

Used classical conditioning to train dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell Signup and view all the answers

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus?

Any stimulus which brings about a natural response Signup and view all the answers

What is an Unconditional Response?

A response which naturally occurs to a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Stimulus?

A stimulus that becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Response?

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is Little Albert?

Study which demonstrated classical conditioning of a fear response Signup and view all the answers

Who are Watson & Raynor?

Used Little Albert to study classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What does Generalisation refer to?

When the conditioned response is extended to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What does Discrimination mean in this context?

When someone learns to tell the difference between the conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is Extinction?

When the conditioned response no longer occurs on presentation of the conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is Operant Conditioning?

Learning through consequence/reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Who is Skinner?

Studied operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is a Consequence?

What happens as the result of a behaviour Signup and view all the answers

What is Reinforcement?

Anything which increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated Signup and view all the answers

What is Positive Reinforcement?

Behaviour is repeated due to the presentation of a pleasant stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is Negative Reinforcement?

Behaviour is repeated due to the removal of an unpleasant stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is Positive Punishment?

An unpleasant stimulus is presented in an attempt to reduce behaviour Signup and view all the answers

What is Negative Punishment?

A pleasant stimulus is removed in an attempt to reduce behaviour Signup and view all the answers

What is a Skinner Box?

Used in the operant conditioning of rats (and pigeons) Signup and view all the answers

What is a Reward?

A pleasant stimulus, presented in the hope a behaviour will be repeated Signup and view all the answers

What is Observational Learning?

Learning by watching (and copying) others Signup and view all the answers

Who is Bandura?

Investigated Social Learning Theory and carried out Bobo doll study Signup and view all the answers

What is a Model in the context of learning?

Someone who is looked up to by others Signup and view all the answers

What is Observation?

Watching others Signup and view all the answers

What does Identification mean in this context?

When someone adopts the characteristics of a model Signup and view all the answers

What is Imitation?

Copying the behaviour of others Signup and view all the answers

What is Gender Role?

The different ways men and women are expected to behave Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Theories

Learning involves acquiring new knowledge or skills.
Cognition encompasses all mental processes, including thinking, learning, and memory.
Behaviour refers to the actions or reactions of an individual.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is described as learning through association.
A stimulus is an event that triggers a response.
A response follows a stimulus and occurs naturally in reflex actions.
Reflex actions are automatic responses to stimuli.

Key Figures in Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov is known for his experiments with dogs, conditioning them to salivate at the sound of a bell.
Unconditioned stimuli yield natural, involuntary responses, termed unconditioned responses.
Conditioned stimuli develop associations with unconditioned stimuli, leading to conditioned responses.

Little Albert Experiment

The Little Albert study illustrated the principles of classical conditioning in fear responses.
John Watson and Rosalie Raynor conducted the study to demonstrate how emotions can be conditioned.

Conditioning Outcomes

Generalization occurs when conditioned responses extend to similar stimuli.
Discrimination involves recognizing differences between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli.
Extinction happens when a conditioned response fades upon repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without reinforcement.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning focuses on learning through consequences and reinforcement.
B.F. Skinner is recognized for studying operant conditioning and developing the Skinner box to observe animal behavior.
Consequence refers to the outcomes resulting from a behavior.

Reinforcement and Punishment

Reinforcement increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.
Positive reinforcement involves presenting a pleasant stimulus to encourage a behavior.
Negative reinforcement entails removing an unpleasant stimulus to promote behavior repetition.
Positive punishment introduces an unpleasant stimulus to diminish behavior.
Negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus as a means to reduce behavior.

Observational Learning

Observational learning occurs when individuals learn by watching and imitating others.
Albert Bandura studied Social Learning Theory and conducted the Bobo doll experiment, demonstrating that children can learn aggressive behaviors through observation.
A model is an admired figure whose behaviors may be emulated by others.

Additional Concepts in Learning

Identification arises when an individual adopts traits from a model they respect.
Imitation involves directly copying the behavior of others.
Gender roles affect expectations for behavior based on one's sex, influencing societal norms and personal development.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key concepts in learning theories within psychology. Explore terms related to cognition, behavior, and conditioning to enhance your understanding of how we learn. Use these flashcards to test your knowledge and recall essential definitions.