Module 17 19 Learning Module 17 Classical Conditioning 02 24 2012 Classical conditioning a type of learning Learning relatively permanent change in behavior that is brought about by experience Habituation decrease in response to a stimulus that occurs after repeated presentations of the same stimulus The Basics of Classical Conditioning Ivan Pavlov Russian physiologist Pavlov s Dogs trained dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell Classical conditioning a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about that response Neutral stimulus stimulus before conditioning that does not normally bring about a response Unconditioned stimulus the response we are interested in conditioning Unconditioned response a natural innate reflexive response that is not associated with previous learning Conditioned stimulus when the neutral stimulus evolves to a conditioned response Conditioned response a response that is trained Applying Conditioning Principles to Human Behavior Phobias intense irrational fears PTSD war veterans who have had traumatic experiences can also be produced by classical conditioning Extinction Extinction occurs when a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and eventually disappears Spontaneous recovery the reemergence of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of time and with no further conditioning Generalization and Discrimination Stimulus generalization a process in which after a stimulus has been conditioned to produce a particular response stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus produce the same response Stimulus discrimination if 2 stimuli are sufficiently distinct from each other that one evokes a conditioned response but the other does not Beyond Traditional Classical Conditioning Challenging Basic Assumptions Biologically prepared Learned taste aversion Module 18 Operant Conditioning Operant conditioning learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened depending on its favorable or unfavorable consequences Throndike s Law of Effect Edward L Thorndike cat in a box learn to obtain food by leaving the box law of effect responses that lead to satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated The Basics of Operant Conditioning B F Skinner learn to obtain food by operating on their environment Reinforcement the process by which a stimulus increases the probability that a preceding behavior will be repeated Reinforcer any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding behavior will occur again Positive reinforcer a stimulus added to the environment that brings about an increase in a preceding response Negative reinforcer unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated in the future Punishment refers to a stimulus that decreases the probability that a prior behavior will occur again Positive punishment weakens a response through the application of an unpleasant stimulus Negative punishment removal of something pleasant Pros and Cons of Punishment o Punishment is the quickest route to changing behavior o But is frequently ineffective if not delivered right after th undesired behavior or of the individual is able to leave the setting in which the punishment is being given o Physical punishment can convey to the recipient that idea that physical aggression is permissible o Can also reduce the self esteem of the recipient o Punishment does not convey information about what the more appropriate behavior might be o Reinforcing desired behavior is better Schedules of Reinforcement Timing Life s Rewards o Schedules of reinforcement frequency and timing of reinforcement that follows desired behavior o Continuous reinforcement schedule behavior that is reinforced every time it occurs o Partial reinforcement schedule behavior is reinforced some but not all of the time performance lasts longer than continuous o Fixed ration schedule reinforcement is given only after a specific number of responses o Variable ratio schedule reinforcement occurs after a varying number of responses rather than after a fixed number o Fixed interval schedule provides a reinforcement for a response only if a fixed time period has elapsed overall rates of response are relatively low o Variable interval schedule the time between reinforcements varies around some average rather than being fixed Discrimination and Generalization in Operant Conditioning o Stimulus control training a behavior is reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus but not in its absence o Discriminative stimulus signals the likelihood that reinforcement will follow a response o Generalization occurs respond to similar stimulus in same way Shaping Reinforcing What Doesn t Come Naturally o Shaping the process of teaching a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior Biological Constraints on Learning o Biological constraints built in limitations in the ability of animals to learn particular behaviors o Evolutionary perspective to be genetically predisposed to be fearful of certain stimuli Comparing Classical and Operant Conditioning o Association with stimuli vs reinforcement o Involuntary behavior vs voluntary responses Behavior modification a formalized technique for promoting the frequency of desirable behaviors and decreasing the incidence of unwanted ones Module 19 Cognitive Approaches to Learning Cognitive learning theory learning in terms of thought processes that underlie it it is not enough to say that people make responses because there is an assumed link between a stimulus and response people develop an expectation that they will receive a reinforcer after making a response Latent Learning Latent learning a new behavior is learned but not demonstrated until some incentive is provided for displaying it Put rats in mazes rewarded rats went through them quicker Unrewarded rats learned the layout of the maze early they just never displayed latent learning until the reinforcement was offered Cognitive map mental representation of spatial locations and directions Observational Learning Learning Through Imitation Observational learning learning by watching the behavior of another person or model Young children exposed to videos imitated the behavior in them Important in acquiring skills which the operant conditioning is inappropriate Capacity to imitate others may be
View Full Document
Unlocking...