Chisom's Psychology Blog

Memory: the persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information.
Memory process-
•encoding- the processing of information into the memory system.
•storage-the retention of encoded material over time.
•retrieval- the process of getting the information out of memory storage.
Recall VS. Recognition:
•With recall- you must retrieve the information from your memory
•with recognition- you must identify the target from possible targets.
Flashbulb Memory: a clear moment of an emotionally significant moment or
event.

Types of Memory:
•Sensory Memory- the immediate, initial recording of sensory information in the memory system. Stored just for an instant, and most gets unprocessed.
•Short-Term Memory- memory that holds only a few items briefly. Seven digits. The info will be stored into long-term or forgotten.
Working Memory: Another way of describing the use of short term memory.
Has 3parts:
~Audio, Visual, Integration of audio and visual (controls where attention lies)
•Long Term memory- the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system.
Automatic  Processing- unconscious encoding of incidental info.
You encode space, time, and word meaning without effort. Can become automatic with practice.
Effortful Processing- encoding that requires attention and conscious effort. Rehearsal is the most common technique. Through rehearsal can become automatic. 

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4/25/14
Encoding:
•Semantic Encoding: the encoding of meaning, like the meaning of words.
• Acoustic: The encoding of sound, especially the sounds of words.
•Visual Encoding: The encoding of picture images.
Tricks(use imagery and mental pictures)
1. The next in line effect- we seldom remember what the person has just said or done if we are next
Spacing Effect: we encode better when we study or practice over time.
Serial Positioning Effect: our tendency recall best the last and first items in a list.

Chunking: organizing items into familiar, manageable units.
Often it will occur automatically.

4/28/14
Types of long term memory:
•Explicit- with conscious recall
General knowledge
Experienced events
•Implicit- without conscious recall
Motor and cognitive
Question: j
Types of Retrieval Failure:
•Proactive Interference- The disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information.
•Retroactive Interference- The disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information.
Misinformation Effect: incorporating misleading information into ones memory of an event. 

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5/1/14
Learning

Associative learning (most learning) - learning that certain events occur together.
Classical Conditioning: automatic
1. (Psychology) the alteration in responding that occurs when two stimuli are regularly paired in close succession: the response originally given to the second stimulus comes to be given to the first.
• Ivan Pavlov:
Acquisition (the initial stage of learning. Phase where the neutral stimulus is associated with the UCS SO IT COMES TO CR)
Extinction(the diminishing of a conditioned
Spontaneous recovery ( re-appearance. 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)
UCS (unconditioned stimulus) - a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.
UCR (unconditional response) - the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the UCS.
CS(conditioned stimulus)- an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with the UCS, comes to trigger a response.
CR(conditioned response)- the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus. 

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5/5/14
Operant Conditioning- the learner is NOT passive. Learning based on consequence.
•involves behavior where one can influence their environment with behaviors which have consequences.
•type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed my punishment.
{Both use acquisition, discrimination, SR, generalization and extinction. }

The Law of Effect: rewarded behavior is likely to recur
•Edward Thorndike

B.F Skinner:
•Shaping- a procedure in Operant conditioning in which reinforcers guide behavior closer and closer towards a goal.
Reinforcers- any event that strengthens the behavior it follows. (Positive and negative)
    1. Positive- strengthens a response by presenting a stimulus after a response.
     2. Negative- strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus.

Primary Reinforcer- an innately reinforcing stimulus.

Secondary (conditioned) Reinforcer- a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer.

Punishment-an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Reinforcement Schedules:
•continuous reinforcement- reinforcing the desired response every time occurs.
•partial reinforcement- reinforcing a response only part of the time. The acquisition process is slower. Greater resistance to extinction.

Fixed ratio schedules- a schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

•variable ratio schedule- a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

•fixed interval schedule- a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

•variable interval schedule- a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable. 

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5/6/14
Token Economy- every time a desired behavior is performed, a token is given.
• They can trade tokens in for a variety of prizes (reinforcers)
•used in homes, prisons, mental institutions and schools.