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Summary PSYC 2330 final study notes
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Study notes for the course Principles of Learning based on the textbook 'The Principles of learning and Behaviour' by Michael Domjan.
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CHAPTER 1Stimulus
A stimulus is any environmental event or change that elicits a response from an
organism. It serves as the basis for understanding behavior in learning theories.
Types of Stimuli:
1. Exteroceptive:
Stimuli originating from the external environment, such as light, sound, or
temperature.
o Example: A flash of lightning (visual exteroceptive stimulus) or a loud
bang (auditory exteroceptive stimulus).
2. Interoceptive:
Stimuli originating from within the body, often related to physiological states.
o Example: A feeling of hunger or increased heart rate due to anxiety.
3. Appetitive:
Stimuli that are attractive or desirable, often linked to positive reinforcement.
o Example: The smell of food when you're hungry.
4. Neutral:
Stimuli that initially have no particular significance to an organism.
o Example: A random tone that has not been paired with any
reinforcement.
5. Aversive:
Stimuli that are unpleasant or undesirable, often linked to negative
reinforcement or punishment.
o Example: A sharp pain or the sound of a loud alarm.
Response
,A response is a specific behavior elicited by a stimulus. Responses can vary in
complexity and purpose.
Homeostasis:
The body’s tendency to maintain internal balance through regulatory processes.
Responses often help restore homeostasis.
Example: Shivering in response to cold helps maintain body temperature.
Types of Behavior:
1. Learned vs. Instinctual:
o Learned: Acquired through experience or conditioning.
Example: A dog learning to sit on command.
o Instinctual: Innate, hardwired behaviors not dependent on
experience.
Example: Birds migrating during seasonal changes.
2. Reflexive:
Automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli.
o Example: The knee-jerk reflex when the patellar tendon is tapped.
3. Homeostatic:
Behaviors aimed at restoring balance in physiological states.
o Example: Drinking water to combat dehydration.
4. Autonomic:
Behaviors controlled by the autonomic nervous system, regulating
involuntary physiological functions.
o Example: Increased heart rate during stress.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
A stimulus that naturally and automatically elicits a response without prior learning.
, Example: Food is an unconditioned stimulus that causes salivation in dogs.
Unconditioned Response (UR)
The innate, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.
Example: Salivation in response to food.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned
stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.
Example: A bell that has been paired with food becomes a conditioned
stimulus.
Conditioned Response (CR)
A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.
Example: Salivation in response to the sound of a bell.
Associative Conditioning
A learning process where an association is formed between two stimuli or between a
stimulus and a response.
Includes Pavlovian (classical) conditioning and operant conditioning.
Pavlovian Conditioning (Classical Conditioning)
A form of associative learning discovered by Ivan Pavlov, where a neutral stimulus
becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned
response.
Example: A dog learns to salivate at the sound of a bell after repeated
pairings with food.
Learning as an Experimental Science
, Animal Models of Human Behavior:
Studying animals to gain insights into human behavior.
Example: Rats are used in maze experiments to study spatial learning and
memory.
Use of Animals in Research:
Types of Experiments: Operant conditioning chambers (Skinner boxes),
maze navigation, and fear conditioning.
Advantages:
o Controlled environments reduce variability.
o Ethical constraints are less stringent compared to human research.
o Shorter lifespans allow longitudinal studies.
Three Rs of Animal Research:
1. Replacement: Using non-animal models where possible.
2. Reduction: Minimizing the number of animals used.
3. Refinement: Enhancing procedures to minimize suffering.
Model Organisms vs. Animal Models:
Model Organisms: Specific species extensively studied (e.g., fruit flies,
zebrafish).
Animal Models: Broader use of animals to simulate human conditions.
Behaviorism
A psychological perspective focusing on observable behaviors rather than mental
states.
Key figures: John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner.
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