Learning

1. Learning • A relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience

2. Learning • Classical Conditioning • Ivan Pavlov • Operant Conditioning • BF Skinner • Observational Learning • Albert Bandura

3. Behaviorism • The idea that Psychology should be based on observable behavior and NOT on thoughts, feelings, or internal motivation

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Observational Learning