AP Psychology Review 4: Learning

I. What is Learning? DEF: The modification through experience of pre-existing behavior and understanding

II. What is Habituation? DEF: The process of adjusting to stimulus that do not change. EX: Before Mr. Creech had kids, their noisiness was annoying. After Mr. Creech had children, the noisiness did not bother him. EX: Glasses EX: Fitness EX: ???

III. What is Classical Conditioning? DEF: A procedure in which a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a stimulus that elicits a reflex or other response until the neutral stimulus alone comes to elicit the response. EX: If I clap my hands (neutral stimulus) and say, “Time for Bed” over and over at 9:30, eventually my children will head to bed even if I just clap my hands (conditioned response) around bed time

IV. Conditioned versus Unconditioned Stimulus: Unconditioned Stimulus: A stimulus that elicits a response w/o conditioning Unconditioned Response: The automatic or unlearned reaction to a stimulus Conditioned Stimulus: The originally neutral stimulus that, through repeated pairing with the neutral stimulus, comes to elicit a conditioned response Conditioned Response: The response that the conditioned stimulus elicits

V. Pavlov and Classical Conditioning: In his classic experiment, Pavlov conditioned his dogs to salivate(Conditioned Response) when a bell rang (Conditioned Stimulus) Originally, they would only salivate (Conditioned Stimulus) when in the presence of food powder (Unconditioned Response)

VI. Extinction and Reconditioning: Extinction is when a conditioned response gradually disappears when a conditioned stimulus no longer predicts the appearance of an unconditioned stimulus Reconditioning occurs when a conditioned response is quickly re-learned after extinction -EX: your mom used to snap her finger to get your attention. Your new girlfriend starts to do it on the advice of your mom ()!!!

VII. Spontaneous Recovery: DEF: The reappearance of the conditioned response after extinction and without further parings of the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. EX: In the war, you were shot 4 separate times. You began to associate pain (CR) with gunshots (CS). 40 years later, while out walking your dog, you heard a car backfire and felt pain for the first time in 40 years.

VIII. Stimulus Generalization and Discrimination: Generalization is when we have a conditioned response to stimuli that are similar, but not the same as the conditioned stimulus EX: When Pavlov’s dog heard the hand bell, it salivated. When it heard a church bell, a boxing bell, or any other bell it began to salivate. Discrimination is when we only show the conditioned response in the presence of the conditioned stimulus

IX. Second Order Conditioning: DEF: A situation in which a conditioned stimulus acts like an unconditioned stimulus, creating conditioned stimuli out of events associated with it. EX: When you were little, your doctor gave you shots. You realized that the doctor represented pain. Eventually, the doctor’s office also represented pain so you began to not only fear the doctor, but also going to the doctor.

X. The Law of Effect: DEF: A law, created by Edward Thorndike, stating that if a response made in the presence of a particular stimulus is followed by satisfaction, that response is more likely the next time the stimulus is encountered. EX: When I go on a roller coaster, I feel euphoric and excited. I am more likely to go on one again.

XI. Instrumental Conditioning: DEF: Another theory by Thorndike, in which an organism learns to respond to the environment in a way that produces positive consequences and avoids negative ones. EX: When I was a kid, I learned to get up on time or my dad would come in and yell at me. To avoid getting yelled at, I got up on time.

XII. Operant Conditioning: DEF: A process through which an organism learns to respond to the environment in a way that produces positive consequences and avoids negative ones. EX: Fluffy the Chihuahua learns that when she rolls over, she gets a treat and when she chews the newspaper, she gets yelled at.

XIII. Positive and Negative Reinforcers: A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that is given to an organism to elicit desired behavior EX: When Mr. Creech loses 5 pounds, he gets himself a new shirt. A negative reinforcer is any reward that takes away an unpleasant stimulus, such as pain. EX: When Johnny gets sent into timeout, he is allowed to leave only when he says he is sorry.

XIV. Primary and Secondary Reinforcers: Primary reinforcers meet the basic needs of an organism. EX: Food, Water, Air, Sleep Secondary reinforcers are any rewards that we learn to like. EX: Use your imagination

XV. Escape and Avoidance Conditioning: Escape: When an organism learns to make a particular response to terminate an unpleasant stimulus. EX: Your current girlfriend hates sports. When you want to end a long “discussion” about her friends, you change the subject to hockey to get her to hang up. Avoidance: When an organism learns to make a response that prevents an unpleasant stimulus from occurring in the first place. EX: Your current girlfriend loves to “discuss” her Tuesday Night Shopping Experiences. She always calls you from 8-11:30. You learn that she will leave you alone if she thinks you are doing homework

XVI. Reinforcement Schedules: Continuous: Every time the CR is exhibited Partial: Some of the time after CR is exhibited Fixed Ratio (FR): Partial; after a fixed number of responses Variable Ratio (VR): Partial; after a varied number of responses Fixed Interval (FI): Partial; after a fixed number of time after an initial reward Variable Interval (VI):Partial; after a variable number of time after an initial reward

XVII. Punishment: DEF: Presentation of an aversive stimulus or removal of a pleasant stimulus EX: The Whip!!!

XVIII. Learned Helplessness: DEF: A situation in which an organism learns that responses to stimulus does not affect consequences, therefore, the organism stops trying to control the environment EX: You have an evil Psychology teacher who gives difficult tests. You feel that no matter what you do, you will fail his tests. Therefore, you stop studying.

XIX. Latent Learning and Cognitive Mapping: Latent learning is not demonstrated at the time it is learned EX: Your learn how to play chopsticks on the piano at your sister’s piano lesson. Years later, you impress your girlfriend with your music chops. Cognitive mapping is a mental representation of the environment EX: You can navigate your house in the dark. Mr. Creech cannot.

XX. Insight and Learning: DEF: When we figure out something logical on our own, we call it an insight EX: I am trying to remember a person’s name and it comes to me.

XXI. Vicarious Learning: The Bobo Doll!!! DEF: When a person learns something by watching what happens to others EX: My cousin begins to abuse drugs. I see her deteriorate both mentally and physically. I now no longer need to use drugs know they are bad. -Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment