Psychology of LearningEXP4404
Chapter 1: Learning to Change
Dr. Steve
Topics Covered
Natural Selection Mutations Reflexes Sensitization vs. Habituation Modal Action Patterns Releasers General Behavior Traits
Limits of Natural Selection Learning
Nature/Nurture Learning/Instinct
Natural Selection
Natural Selection Adaptive forms of behavior include:
Reflexes Modal Action Patterns General Behavior Traits
Natural Selection
Characteristics “selected” for may eventually become maladaptive. Sickle-shaped red blood cells in Africans Wings on Walking Stick” Coloration of Peppered Moths
Natural Selection
Mutations If occurs in reproductive cells may be passed on to
offspring Most are not adaptive and die out with generation
2-headed turtle White alligator 8-legged frogs
Natural Selection
Reflexes Simple nervous reactions which can be modified in
that they may be triggered by different stimuli through learning.
Grasping Rooting Sucking Eye blink Pupillary Vomit Patellar
Reflex Arc
Natural Selection
Reflexes Sensitization
Buzzing mosquito Gun fire
Habituation Touching sea anemone Wet pull-up diaper Strong cologne
Natural Selection
Sensitization vs. Habituation
Habituation Sensitization
1. Stimulus Intensity Weak: increased likelihood
Strong: Increased likelihood
2. Timing of Stimulus Presentation
More rapid, more effective (however, longer it is lead to longer lasting habituation)
More rapid, more effective
3. Stimulus Variation Less variation, more effective (more predictable)
More variation, more effective (fewer trials req’d, less predictable)
4. Presence of Extraneous Stimuli
Interferes with Interferes with
5. Biological Usefulness
Less likely to habituate
More likely to sensitize
Sensitize or Habituate? Screaming baby in movie theater? Communication in married couples? Florida State war chant? Watch chime? Florida heat and humidity? Tabasco sauce? State Troopers on I-10?
Natural Selection
Sensitization vs. Habituation
Natural Selection
Modal Action Patterns AKA: Fixed action patterns, species-specific behavior,
species-typical behavior, instincts Complex behavior, difficult to change
Cat arches back, hisses, and flicks tail (fend off enemies) Migration of geese in V-formation (cope with elements) Woodpeckers peck holes in trees (procure food) Wide receiver does end zone dance (show off)
Natural Selection
Releasers Male stickleback fish attacks red underbelly
If you were a stickleback fish, which object would you attack?
Natural Selection
General Behavior Traits More variable than Modal Action Patterns
Levels of introversion, aggression, anxiety, general activity, and sexual practices
Behavior traits may be genetically linked to physical characteristics so that when one is selected, so is the other
Dog breeding – dogs bred for certain physical traits often have similar temperament (e.g., small nippy dogs)
Traits adaptive at one time, may become maladaptive Agoraphobia protected gatherers from predators
Limits of Natural Selection
Natural selection cannot aid survival when environment changes abruptly Asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction Endangered polar bears due to global warming Introduction of new species into ecosystems (iguana) Overhunting/fishing (buffalo, passenger pigeon) Man-made challenges (armadillo’s jump when
approached)
Learning
Learning defined as:
Learning
Behavior Experience Stimuli
Humans cannot detect x-rays; bees can Humans cannot detect sounds higher than 20,000 Hz; dogs
can Response
Glandular secretions – stomach acid, tears, saliva Muscle actions – walking, talking, gestures
Learning
Why is the ability to learn “selected” for? It allows organisms to adapt to abruptly changing
environments (whereas other changes do not) Taste aversions – develop a distaste for something that
makes you sick (e.g., certain BBQ restaurant) Batesian mimicry – Survival based on mimicking other
organisms. Birds learn to avoid eating viceroy butterflies because they look like the poisonous and foul tasting monarch (this taste aversion benefits both bird and viceroy)
Learning
Story of the Bombardier Beetle vs. the Mouse Learning or MAP (instinct)?
Characteristic of learning BeetleY/N
MouseY/N
1. Involves change in behavior?
2. Occurs because of experience?
3. Leads to different behaviors depending on circumstances?
Learning
Nature vs. Nurture, or Nature via Nurture? Which is more important in changing behavior?
Harlow – monkeys raised in isolation did not learn mating skills.
Kuo – 45% of cats raised without mothers did not learn how to hunt.
Hart & Risley – Children with parents that talked to them more, later scored higher on tests of intelligence.
Learning
Learning or Instinct? Eaglet flies for the first time? Faun runs from predator? Human baby walks? Human baby swims? Owlet hunts for first time? Robin builds nest for first time? Songbird sings? Puppy digs holes in yard? Kitten uses litter box? Toddler uses potty?