Learning

Fall 2011

Classical Conditioning

Learning

• A relatively permanent change in behavior or mental processes because of practice or experience.

Classical Conditioning: Pavlov’s Dogs

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP5lCleK-PM

• http://vimeo.com/6217895

Six Principles of Classical Conditioning

Stimulus Generalization Extinction Higher-Order

ConditioningReconditionin

gSpontaneous

RecoveryStimulus

Discrimination

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euINCrDbbD4

Operant Conditioning

Reinforcement• A consequence that

strengthens a response and makes it more likely to occur.

Punishment• A consequence that

weakens a response and makes it less likely to occur.

Operant Conditioning

• Law of Effect- Edward Thorndike’s rule that the probability of an action being repeated is strengthened when followed by a pleasant or satisfying consequence.

Reinforcement

• Primary reinforcers– Food, water, sex

• Secondary reinforcers– Money, praise, attention

• Positive reinforcement– Adds to (+) and strengthens behavior

• Negative reinforcement– Takes away (-) and strengthens behavior

Reinforcement

• Premack Principle- tying your less-desirable, low-frequency activities (paying bills), to your high-frequency behavior (going to the movies)

Shaping

• Reinforcement by a series of successively improved steps leading to desired response

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbWnJeTJCys

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A-hADCTHqM

PunishmentPositive punishment adds stimulus (+) and weakens the behavior

• Running extra laps in gym class

• Chores• Complaining boss

Negative punishment takes a stimulus away (-) ad weakens the behavior

• Excluded from gym • Removing cell phone• Reduced expense account

The Skinner Box Application

• Stimulus is added and response rate increases

• Stimuluis is added and response rate decreases

• Stimulus is taken away and response rate increases

• Stimulus is taken away and response rate decreases

Side Effects of Punishment

• Passive aggressiveness• Avoidance behavior• Modeling• Learned helplessness• Temporary suppression• Increased aggression

Cognitive-Social Learning

Cognitive-Social Theory

• A perspective that emphasizes the roles of thinking and social learning in behavior.

• Rather than relying on S-R, this theory emphasizes the interpretation or thinking that occurs within the organism with S-O-R (stimulus-organism-response)– Organism = attitudes, beliefs, expectation,

motivations, and emotions that affect learning.

Insight

• Wolfgang Kohler’s chimps

• Insight- sudden understanding of a problem that implies the solution

• Sultan and insight learning

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPz6uvIbWZE&feature=related

Cognitive Maps

• Edward Tolman believed researchers underestimated animal’s cognitive processes and cognitive learning.

• Cognitive maps or mental representations of their environment.– Latent learning

Observational Learning

• Learning new behavior or information by watching others (also known as social learning or modeling)

• Albert Bandura– Bobo doll– Four processes:

1. Attention2. Retention3. Reproduction4. Reinforcement

Observational Learning

• Bobo Doll– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCETgT_Xfzg

• Learning Through Imitation– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhG-_KsDYTA

&feature=related

Biology of Learning

• Learning creates new synaptic connections and alterations in our brain

• Stimulating environments enhance neurological functioning in rats and humans

Mirror Neurons• Neurons help us identify with what others are feeling and

to imitate their actions.

• First discovered by neuroscientists studying monkeys

• Think of sports spectators, babies

• Thought to be linked to autism and schizophrenia

• http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html

Evolution and Learning

• Learning is an adaptation that enables organisms to survive and prosper in a constantly changing world.

• Taste aversion- foods and drinks become conditioned stimuli

Evolution and Learning

• Biological preparedness- built-in readiness to form associations between certain stimuli and responses (i.e., snakes, darkness, spiders, heights).

• Instinctive drift- the tendency of some conditioned responses to shift or drift back toward innate response pattern.

Conditioning and Learning in Everyday Life

Classical Conditioning in Everyday

• Kenneth and Mamie Clark experiment with dolls– Children learned to

associate inferior qualities with darker skin and v.v.

• Advertising• Medicine

Operant Conditioning in Everyday

• Generalizations- one bad experience with a member of a group leads to prejudice.

• Biofeedback- feedback positively reinforces the practice of coping. Gives a sense of control.

Cognitive-Social Learning in Everyday

• Modeling/Social Learning– Example: Video games and aggression