PSY402 Theories of LearningLimits to LearningBehavior Systems ApproachAnimal MisbehaviorExplaining MisbehaviorSchedule-Induced BehaviorEffects with HumansFlavor-Aversion LearningApplicationsExplanationsImprintingOther Factors in ImprintingOther Kinds of ImprintingNature of ImprintingInstinctive View of ImprintingAvoidance of Aversive EventsPSY402Theories of LearningFridayMarch 14, 2003Limits to LearningHow 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 ApproachTimberlake – 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 MisbehaviorBreland & Breland – trained 38 species of animals for Busch Gardens.Elicitation of foraging and food-handling instincts interferes with performance of operant routines.Instinctive driftPig and piggy bankRaccoons and food-washingExplaining MisbehaviorDoes 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 BehaviorSuperstitious 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-orientedInterim – follows reinforcement.Effects with HumansSuperstitious 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 quicklyFlavor-Aversion LearningLong-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 birdsTaste cues more salient to ratsSalience depends on when the animals seeks its food (nocturnal or not).ApplicationsCancer 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.ExplanationsLearned-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 whileImprintingLorenz – social attachment process where young ducks follow their mother.Ducks imprint to:Moving objects with lifelike motionVocalizing objects, short rhythmic sounds, not high-pitchedObjects that are the right sizeOther Factors in ImprintingHarlow – baby primates attach to soft terry cloth rather than wire.Rocking rather than stationaryWarm rather than coldAinsworth – attachment to a responsive mother.Occurs more easily during sensitive period of animal’s life.6 to 12 months for humansOther Kinds of ImprintingSexual preferences – occurs early in development, long before sexual maturity, not modifiable later.Food preferences – preferences established early and permanent.People prefer familiar foodsFood aversions develop between 6 & 12 yrsNature of ImprintingBoth instinctive and associative processes are involved.Associative-learning view – objects become familiar before fear system maturesFamiliar objects reduce fear later, so become preferred due to relief.Harlow’s studies contradict this.Some objects are more imprintable.Instinctive View of ImprintingOrganisms 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 EventsSpecies-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
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