learning a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience
TRANSCRIPT
Learning
• Classical Conditioning– Ivan Pavlov
• Operant Conditioning– BF Skinner
• Observational Learning– Albert Bandura
Behaviorism
• The idea that Psychology should be based on observable behavior and NOT on thoughts, feelings, or internal motivation
• Adaptability- our capacity to learn new behaviors that enable us to cope with changing circumstances
• Associative learning- learning that links events together – (2 stimuli; classical conditioning) – response and consequence (operant
conditioning)
Concepts associated with Classical Conditioning
• Unconditioned stimulus (US)• Unconditioned response (UR)• Neutral stimulus (NS)• Conditioned stimulus (CS)• Conditioned response (CR)• Acquisition- initial pairing of the NS with the US• Extinction- the diminishing of the CR; or when the US and the
NS are no longer paired to elicit the CR. Ex. Presenting the US without the NS
• Spontaneous recovery the reemergence of the CR • Generalization the capacity to respond to stimuli similar to the
CS• Discrimination- the capacity to distinguish between the CS and
irrelevant stimuli
Facts to know about Classical Conditioning
• Minimal time should lapse when pairing the NS and the US
• The more predictable the association the stronger the CR
• Natural selection favors traits that aid in survival (taste aversions, mating rituals are difficult to extinguish
• Classical conditioning is one way organisms adapt to their environment
• Provides a process by which learning can be studied objectively
Operant Conditioning
• Learning due to results (operant)
• Learning with events it doesn’t control (classical)
• Thorndikes Law of Effect– Rewarded behavior is likely to recur
BF Skinner
• BF Skinner– Skinner conditioned pigeons to do very “UN pigeon-
like” behavior– “Skinner box”- box where an animal presses a bar or
lever to release a reward also functions as a device that records the behavior
Shaping
– Shaping• Where reinforcers guide an animals behavior
towards a desired behavior– Ex. Petsmart, Pet-Co
• Successful approximation- gradually rewarding behaviors closer to a desired result
– guide an animal’s natural behavior toward a desired behavior. By rewarding responses that are ever closer to the final desired behavior (successive approximations), and ignoring all other responses, researchers can gradually shape complex behaviors.
» Seeing eye dogs
Token Economy
• Token economy– An operant conditioning procedure in which
people earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats
• Token economies have been successful in an array of settings
– Homes, hospitals, schools, mental institutions, prisons– This technique is especially effective with the mentally ill
and mentally disabled
Token Economy
• Criticisms of Token economies– What happens when the reinforcement stops?
As in when the person leaves the institutuion– Ethical concerns…
• Is it right for one human to control another human being’s behavior?
Reinforcement and Punishment
• Reinforcement is any event that increases the likelihood a behavior will repeat itself– Positive reinforcement a tangible reward– Negative reinforcement removing an aversive stimulus
as a reward
• Primary reinforcers– Getting food when hungry, etc.
• Conditioned or secondary reinforcers – Getting money for good grades, praise, etc. (we
LEARN these things are linked to basic rewards)
Reinforcement
• Immediate reinforcement vs. delayed reinforcement– Animals do NOT readily respond to a delayed
reinforcement– Humans on the other hand DO (sign of maturity;
delayed gratification)• Ex. Paycheck after 2 wks• Trophy at the end of a season• College graduation
– Exceptions to the rule: unprotected sex, smokers, SUVs
Reinforcement schedules
• Continuous reinforcement- the desired response is reinforced every time it occurs
• Partial (intermittent) reinforcement- where responses are sometimes reinforced– Has a greater resistance to extinction (ie hope
springs eternal!) ex. Children & tantrums, gamblers..etc.
Intermittent or partial reinforcement schedules
• Fixed ratio- reinforces behavior after a FIXED number or responses– Sweatshop workers getting paid by the # of completed pieces
• Variable ratio- reinforces after an unpredictable number of responses– slot machines
• Fixed interval- reinforces at a FIXED time– 2 week paycheck (showing up to work on pay Friday)
• Variable interval- reinforces at an unpredictable time– Fishermen– Button pushing at an elevator
• Which reinforcement schedule yields the highest # of responses?– Variable Ratio
Punishment
• Punishment is any event that decreases the likelihood a behavior will repeat itself– Positive punishment- administering an aversive
stimulus. ie spanking– Negative punishment- removing a reinforcer. Taking
cell phone or car keys• Punishment MUST be given consistently • Intermittent punishment usually has the effect of
rewarding unwanted behavior– A supervisor overlooking the late arrival of an
employee
Punishment
• The power of punishment to suppress behavior disappears when the threat of punishment is removed– Ex. Speeders observe the limit ONLY when police are
watching• Punishment triggers escape or aggression
– Wounded animal will turn and fight– Prison riots, etc.
• Punishment makes the learner apprehensive which inhibits learning new and better responses– Learned helplessness ------ Depression
Punishment
• Punishment should be swift• Punishment should be limited in duration and
intensity• Punishment should target the behavior• Punishment should be limited to the situation in
which the response occurred • Punishment works best when combined with a
reinforcer• The most effective punishment is usually
omission training
Observational Learning• Albert Bandura
– Bobo dolls• Where we observe and imitate others
– Ex “monkey see, monkey do”• Modeling
– the process of observing and imitating specific behavior• Mirror neurons- located in the frontal lobe of the brain that provide a
neural basis for observational learning• Pro-social behaviors
– People who perform positive helpful behavior can prompt similar behavior in others
– Ex. Mahatma Gandhi--- MLK--- civil rights movement in America• Television
– Cartoon violence yields violent children