Learning

How do we learn?
- Most is associative learning
- certain events occur together

Three Main types
- Classical conditioning / operant conditioning
- Observational learning / latent learning
- Abstract learning / insight learning

Classical
- Started with Ivan Pavlov
- 5 critical terms
1. acquisition
2. extinction
3. spontaneous recovery
4. generalization
5. discrimination

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
- stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response

Unconditioned response (UCR)
- the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the UCS

Conditioned stimulus (CS)
- an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with the UCS, comes to trigger a response

Conditioned Response (CR)
- the learned response to a previous stimulus

Acquisition
- Initial stage of learning
- Phase where the neutral stimulus is associated with the UCS so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit the CR thus becoming the CS
- Does timing matter?
-- CS should come before the UCS
-- They should be very close in timing

Extinction
- The diminishing if a conditioned response
- Will eventually happen when the UCS dows not follow the CS

Spontaneous Recovery
- The reappearen after a rest period of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization
- The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the CS to elicit similar responses

Discrimination
- The learned ability to distinguish between a CS and other stimuli that does not signal UCS