1.5 Avoidance Learning

Question 1

what is escape

Answer 1

turning off some currently occurring aversive event

Question 2

what is avoidance

Answer 2

preventing some aversive event from occurring

Question 3

briefly describe the process of shuttleboxes used to simulate escape learning

Answer 3

• barrier divided box, one half w a grid
• warning signal comes on, followed by mild foot shock through grid floor
• subject can escape shock by leaping over barrier to safe area

Question 4

after the rat is exposed to the warning light and shock what will it learn to do

Answer 4

avoid: jump over the barrier to avoid the shock altogether

Question 5

what does the two-process theory explain?

Answer 5

how fear and avoidance behaviours are acquired and maintained, through two distinct processes of classical and operant conditioning. suggests that fear is acquired through classical conditioning, and avoidance behaviors are maintained through operant conditioning.

Question 6

how does the two-process theory explain that avoidance behaviours can be difficult to change?

Answer 6

behaviours are reinforced by the reduction of fear and anxiety so more likely to be done again

Question 7

outline the conditioned fear phase of the two-process theory

Answer 7

the CLASSICAL part

• the warning sign precedes the shock
• the shock produces fear
• with repeated trials, the warning signal begins to generate fear itself just by seeing it

Question 8

outline the fear reduction phase of the two-process theory

Answer 8

the OPERANT part
- reinforcement is reduction of fear
- animal moves away from the warning sign and fear is reduced
- reduction of fear is a negative reinforcer

Question 9

outline two problems with the two-factor theory (conditioned fear phase 1, instrumental fear reduction phase 2)

Answer 9

• 2-process theory assumes classical conditioning must come first, but avoidance can occur in the absence of a warning stimulus that hasn’t been paired with a fear response
• assumes strong relationship between fear and avoidance, but avoidance can occur even when there’s no fear to the warning stimulus