Classical Conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.
How does extinction occur with a classically conditioned response?
Extinction is the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency. The consistent presentation of the conditioned stimulus alone, without the unconditioned stimulus leads to extinction.
To achieve higher-order conditioning, a subject must be exposed to a natural unconditioned stimulus in order for a conditioned response to be learned
False
What role did Pavlov play in "discovering" classical conditioning?
Pavlov demonstrated how stimulus-related associations-the basic building blocks of learning-are formed by events in an organism's environment
What is shaping? How does it occur?
Shaping is the reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response. Shaping is necessary when an organism does not, on its own, emit the desired response.
What role did B.F. Skinner play in "discovering" operant conditioning?
Skinner demonstrated that organisms tend to repeat those responses that are followed by favorable consequences.
What facilitates stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination?
Stimulus generalization-when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus response in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus Stimulus discrimination-occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.
How does one "acquire" a conditioned response? What factors must be present for acquisition?
The acquisition of a conditioned response depends on stimulus contiguity. Stimuli are contiguous if they occur together in time and space. Stimuli that are novel, unusual, or especially intense have more potential to become conditioned responses than routine because they'll stand out
What is higher-order conditioning? How does it occur?
a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus. New conditioned responses are built on the foundation of already established conditioned responses
Operant conditioning?
a form of learning in which voluntary responses come to be controlled by their consequences.
To increase the chances of a stimulus becoming classically conditioned (e.g., acquisition), there should be ____________ between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus
contiguity
Ratio schedules give reinforcement after a certain amount of ______________, whereas interval schedules give reinforcement after a certain amount of ________________.
desirable responses; time has passed
Compare/contrast fixed and variable reinforcement
fixed-reinforcer is given after a fixed number of non reinforced responses (ex. for every 4th gym membership sold, bonus) variable-reinforcer is given after a variable number of non reinforced responses (ex. a rat is reinforced for every tenth lever pressed on average)
What pattern of reinforcement (i.e., reinforcement schedule) is most robust to extinction? Why?
intermittent reinforcement because continuous is more extreme (reinforcement every time) ratio schedules tend to produce more rapid responding than interval schedules variable-steadier and greater resistance to extinction
Compare/contrast interval and ratio reinforcement
interval-reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval has elapsed (ex. a rat is reinforced for the first lever press after a 2-minute interval has elapsed and then must wait 2 minutes before being able to earn the next reinforcement) variable-interval-reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed.
conditioned response
learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning
When something bad/annoying is removed in order to increase someone's behavior (e.g., Mom only stops yelling when son starts cleaning room), what type of consequence is being utilized?
negative reinforcement
What is the difference between positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment?
positive-occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus negative-when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant stimulus) punishment-when an event following the response weakens the tendency to make that response
conditioned stimulus
previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response
When does extinction occur?
refers to the gradual weakening and disappearance of a response tendency because the response is no longer followed by reinforcement
According to Skinner and the underlying premise of operant conditioning, an individual is more likely to engage in a behavior in the future if it is __________________
reinforced with a reward
Animals can learn to do complex tricks when their trainers reinforce them (e.g., give them treats). The process of gradually consolidating the reinforcement from general to specific behaviors is known as _______________
shaping
Stimulus generalization occurs when a learned response is generalized to stimuli that are _________________ to the original conditioned stimulus
similar
Unconditioned stimulus
stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning
According to the premise of operant conditioning, one learns to engage in certain behaviors based on ____________________
the consequences of the behavior
In Pavlov's experiment, the meat powder (the agent that naturally caused the dogs to salivate), was the
unconditioned stimulus
To make a classically conditioned response extinct, the conditioned stimulus should be presented alone, without the
unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning
