psy402 theories of learning chapter 12 (pg 303-327) biological influences on learning
TRANSCRIPT
PSY402Theories of Learning
Chapter 12 (pg 303-327)Biological Influences on Learning
Limits to Learning
How general are the laws of learning? Skinner’s rules work in both lab and
real-world settings, across species. Learning doesn’t explain all aspects
of behavior. Organization of behavior already exists
within an organism. Learning modifies that organization.
Behavior Systems Approach
Timberlake – learning changes the integration, tuning, instigation or linkages within a behavior system. Different cues are salient to different
behavior modes. Variations in learning occur across
species because their behavior systems are different.
Variations in behavior are the result of predispositions and constraints.
Animal Misbehavior
Breland & Breland – trained 38 species of animals for Busch Gardens.
Elicitation of foraging and food-handling instincts interferes with performance of operant routines. Instinctive drift Pig and piggy bank Raccoons and food-washing
Explaining Misbehavior
Does misbehavior result from operant food reinforcement or classical conditioning?
Timberlake’s appetitive structure view – both kinds of learning contribute to animal misbehavior. Pairings with food are necessary but
not sufficient to evoke misbehavior.
Schedule-Induced Behavior
Superstitious behavior – induced by FI schedules. Animal associates whatever it is doing
at the time with the reinforcement. Ritualistic, stereotyped behavior during
the interval. Two kinds of behavior:
Terminal – reinforcer-oriented Interim – follows reinforcement.
Effects with Humans
Superstitious gambling behavior. Schedule-induced behavior may be
related to alcoholism: Excessive drinking, eating, smoking
may occur immediately after reinforcement.
Weak and inconsistent in humans. Develops rapidly in humans, stops
quickly
Flavor-Aversion Learning
Long-delay learning – does not depend on contiguity.
Preparedness – certain stimuli are innately more likely to be associated with a UCS than others. Visual cues more salient to birds Taste cues more salient to rats Salience depends on when the animals
seeks its food (nocturnal or not).
Applications
Cancer chemotherapy (UCS) causing nausea may be associated with hospital food (CS). Preexposure to food without the toxic
drug or drug without food may help prevent food aversions.
Coyotes and wolves can be taught to avoid attacking and eating sheep using flavor-aversion learning.
Explanations
Learned-Safety theory – an evolved mechanism unique to flavor-aversion to protect animal. Ingestional neophobia – small
quantities consumed at first. Concurrent-Interference view – long
delay occurs because the animal doesn’t eat anything else for a while
Imprinting
Lorenz – social attachment process where young ducks follow their mother.
Ducks imprint to: Moving objects with lifelike motion Vocalizing objects, short rhythmic
sounds, not high-pitched Objects that are the right size
Other Factors in Imprinting
Harlow – baby primates attach to soft terry cloth rather than wire. Rocking rather than stationary Warm rather than cold
Ainsworth – attachment to a responsive mother.
Occurs more easily during sensitive period of animal’s life. 6 to 12 months for humans
Other Kinds of Imprinting
Sexual preferences – occurs early in development, long before sexual maturity, not modifiable later.
Food preferences – preferences established early and permanent. People prefer familiar foods Food aversions develop between 6 & 12
yrs
Nature of Imprinting
Both instinctive and associative processes are involved.
Associative-learning view – objects become familiar before fear system matures Familiar objects reduce fear later, so
become preferred due to relief. Harlow’s studies contradict this. Some objects are more imprintable.
Instinctive View of Imprinting
Organisms contain an innate schema of the imprinting object Evoluntary pressure to learn the right
thing. Response is hard to change.
Extinction does not lead to loss of preference.
Abused primates and children cling to abusive mothers despite punishment.
Avoidance of Aversive Events
Species-specific defense reactions (SSDR) – instinctive responses to specific dangers.
Rats – running, freezing, fighting. Cues predicting danger also select
the specific response. Escape and avoidance behaviors are
learned more readily when they incorporate SSDR.