Psychology Learning Theories

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Questions and Answers

What defines learning in the context provided?

The ability to adapt to new environments without experience.

The acquisition of new knowledge resulting in a relatively permanent change. (correct)

The memorization of information over time.

The innate ability to respond to stimuli without prior learning.

Which process describes the reduction of response due to repeated exposure to a stimulus?

Sensitization

Habituation (correct)

Generalization

Extinction

In classical conditioning, what is an unconditioned stimulus (US)?

A stimulus previously learned to elicit a response.

Any stimulus that is modified through experience.

A conditioned response that has persisted over time.

A stimulus that naturally evokes a reaction without prior learning. (correct)

What occurs during the acquisition phase of classical conditioning?

The conditioned response is paired with the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the recovery of a learned behavior after a rest period following extinction?

Spontaneous recovery Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning is shown when an organism responds similarly to different but related stimuli?

Generalization Signup and view all the answers

Which brain structure is crucial for emotional conditioning according to the content?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

What does the Rescorla-Wagner model introduce that differs from traditional behaviorist approaches?

A cognitive element accounting for aspects of classical conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is second-order conditioning?

A new stimulus that becomes equally conditioned to an earlier conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is biological preparedness in the context of learning?

An inherent predisposition to learn certain types of associations more easily. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concept behind the law of effect in operant conditioning?

Consequences of behaviors help determine their future repetition. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reinforcement schedules would likely produce the most consistent responses?

Variable-Interval Schedule Signup and view all the answers

In operant conditioning, what distinguishes primary reinforcers from secondary reinforcers?

Primary reinforcers satisfy biological needs directly, while secondary rely on association with primary reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'shaping' in the context of operant conditioning?

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a final desired behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the phenomenon where operant behaviors maintained under intermittent reinforcement resist extinction better than those under continuous reinforcement?

Intermittent Reinforcement Effect Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical feature of cognitive maps in operant conditioning?

They demonstrate learning that is not immediately observable but is retained. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the role of mirror neurons in observational learning?

They activate both during the observation and execution of an action. Signup and view all the answers

In operant conditioning, what happens during extinction?

Reinforcement is completely removed, leading to a decline in behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which element is NOT considered a part of the neural mechanisms involved in operant conditioning?

Corpus Callosum Signup and view all the answers

What best defines positive punishment in the framework of operant conditioning?

The introduction of a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning

Learning is the acquisition of knowledge, skills, or responses through experience, resulting in lasting changes in the learner.
Learning is experience-based.
Learning generates changes within the organism.
These changes are relatively permanent.

Habituation and Sensitization

Habituation: Gradual decrease in response to a repeated stimulus.
Sensitization: Increased response to a stimulus following exposure to a strong stimulus.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning: Learning where a neutral stimulus triggers a response after being paired with a stimulus naturally producing that response.
Unconditioned stimulus (US): Reliably produces a natural reaction.
Unconditioned response (UR): Natural, reflexive reaction to the US.
Conditioned stimulus (CS): Stimulus that produces a response similar to the UR but is learned.
Second-order conditioning: A CS is paired with a stimulus associated with the original US.
Acquisition: The phase where the CS and US are presented together.
Extinction: Gradual disappearance of the learned response when the CS is presented without the US.
Spontaneous recovery: Re-emergence of a learned response after a rest period following extinction.
Generalization: Responding to similar stimuli as the CS.
Discrimination: Distinguishing between similar but different stimuli.
Example of classical conditioning: Pavlov's dogs, Little Albert experiment.

Rescorla-Wagner Model

Introduces a cognitive component to classical conditioning.
Accounts for features classical conditioning that are difficult to explain with a purely behavioral approach.

Biological Factors

Biological preparedness: Predisposition to learn some associations more easily than others based on evolutionary history.
Cerebellum: Critical for eyeblink conditioning.
Amygdala: Critical for emotional conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning: Learning where consequences of an action influence whether the behavior is repeated.
Law of effect: Behaviors followed by desirable consequences are more likely to be repeated.
Operant behavior: Behaviors performed to effect changes in the environment.
Skinner box: Controlled environment to study operant behavior.
Reinforcer: Increases the likelihood of a behavior.
Punisher: Decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
Positive reinforcement: Presenting a desirable stimulus to increase behavior.
Negative reinforcement: Removing an undesirable stimulus to increase behavior.
Positive punishment: Presenting an undesirable stimulus to decrease behavior.
Negative punishment: Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease behavior.
Primary reinforcers: Satisfy basic needs/desires.
Secondary reinforcers: Effectiveness from association with primary reinforcers.
Reinforcement schedules: Rules that determine when reinforcement is delivered.
- Fixed-interval (FI): Reinforcement after a specific time interval.
- Variable-interval (VI): Reinforcement after an average time interval.
- Fixed-ratio (FR): Reinforcement after a specific number of responses.
- Variable-ratio (VR): Reinforcement after an average number of responses.
Intermittent reinforcement: Reinforcement not delivered after every response.

Shaping

Shaping: Learning through reinforcement of successive approximations to a desired behavior.

Cognitive Element of Operant Conditioning

Latent learning: Learning that is not immediately obvious but becomes apparent later.
Cognitive map: Mental representation of the environment.

Neural Elements of Operant Conditioning

Pleasure centers: Regions in the brain associated with reward.

Observational Learning

Observational learning: Learning by watching others.
Mirror neurons: Cells that fire both when performing an action and watching another perform the same action.

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Description

Explore key concepts in psychology related to learning, including habituation, sensitization, and classical conditioning. This quiz will test your understanding of how these processes shape our responses and behaviors. Dive into the fascinating mechanisms underlying the acquisition of knowledge and skills.