Thorndike, Skinner, Bandura, oh my!

Module 10

Operant Conditioning – learning which occurs when an animal performs a behaviour (operates on the environment) and the following consequence (reward or punishment) increases or decreases the likelihood of the behaviour re-occuring S > R or S>R>S

Cognitive learning – learning by observation: we can see someone ELSE operate on the environment and learn from it.

Anything you do that results in a pleasurable outcome is more likely to be repeated

Kittens in boxes!

Pigeons – bombs! Ping pong and piano Rats Skinner boxes – babies, rats and pigeons

positive and negative reinforcement strengthen behaviour; punishment, response cost, and extinction weaken behaviour.

1. Postive Reinforcement—”reinforcement” indicates a process that increases behaviour. First, a positive or pleasant stimulus is used in the process, and second, the reinforcer is added (i.e., "positive" as in + sign for addition). In positive reinforcement, a positive reinforcer is added after a response and increases the frequency of the response.

2. Negative Reinforcement- reinforcement indicates a process that increases behaviour. First, a negative or aversive stimulus is used in the process, and second, the reinforcer is subtracted. In negative reinforcement, after the response the negative reinforcer is removed which increases the frequency of the response. (Note: There are two types of negative reinforcement: escape and avoidance. In general, the learner must first learn to escape before he or she learns to avoid.)

3. Response Cost--if positive reinforcement strengthens a response by adding a positive stimulus, then response cost has to weaken a behaviour by subtracting a positive stimulus. After the response the positive reinforcer is removed which weakens the frequency of the response.

4. Punishment--if negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by subtracting a negative stimulus, than punishment has to weaken a behavior by adding a negative stimulus. After a response a negative or aversive stimulus is added which weakens the frequency of the response.

5. Extinction--No longer reinforcing a previously reinforced response (using either positive or negative reinforcement) results in the weakening of the frequency of the response.

http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/~lynda_abbott/Behavioral2.html

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/behsys/operant.html

http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/prtut/reinpair.htm

big bangbig bang theory

Learning can occur through observation or imitation and may NOT involve external rewards or require someone to perform the behaviours.

Skinner – thought this was nonsense Tolman – studied rats in mazes and felt

that rats could learn trough observation, not just reward (cognitive maps)

Bandura

Observational learning: cognitive Bobo and television Social cognitive theory emphasizes

observation, imitation and self-reward in development and learning of social skills, personal interactions and many other behaviours. It is not necessary to actually perform any observable behaviours or receive external rewards to learn.

Four processes:1. Attention2. Memory3. Imitation4. Motivation

See and do

Insight learning (the “ah-ha” moment) “Man walks into a bar and asks for a

glass of water. The bartender points a gun at the man. The man says thank you and walks out”

Innate tendencies Imprinting Prepared learning (ie talking)

Behaviour modification – page 232