Learning

Association, Consequences & Modeling

Learning

Learning Relatively permanent change in an

organism’s behavior due to experience Experience (nurture) is the key to

learning

before after

Learning

Cortex before & after kitten trained to associate horizontal line with shock

3 Types of Learning

Association Objects/

behaviorConsequences

Behavior & results

Observation Imitate/model

Event 1 Event 2

Sea snail associates splash w/ a shock

Seal learns to expect a snack for its antics

Classical Conditioning (Association)

Ivan Pavlov 1849-1936 Russian physician/ neurophysiologist Nobel Prize in 1904 Studied digestive secretions

Pavlov

Present meat powder to dogs Measure digestive processes (saliva)

Noticed saliva production in absence of meat Experimenter Drawer where meat was kept

Dogs responding to environmental stimuli associated with meat

Classical Conditioning

Some stimuli cause automatic response Loud noise/shock/food

Some stimuli do not cause response Bell/light

These 2 kinds of S can become associated Occur close together in time

This association can cause a response to stimuli that usually do not cause response

Examples of Associations

Toilet flushes in shower cringe

Can opener & cat food meow

Dentist office & pain fear

Associate initially meaningless stimuli with meaningful one

Classical Conditioning - Terms

Conditioned = ‘learned’Neutral (S) - does not elicit a R

Tone or bellUnconditioned (S) - automatically

elicits an Unconditioned R Shock

Association formed by pairing these two (S) together

Classical Conditioning - Terms

Neutral (S) causes a R & is now called a conditioned (S)

Conditioned (S) - elicits a CRUCR~CR

UCR caused by UCS CR caused by CS

Classical Conditioning

UCS - meaningful (S) UCRUCR - unlearned (R) CS - formerly neutral (S) CRCR - learned (R) to CS

Classical Conditioning

Learned association between neutral (S) & unconditioned (S) such that you R to neutral (S) as you did to Unc (S)

can opener & cat food meow NS UCS UCRcan opener meow CS CR

Classical Conditioning

Little Albert CC video demo

Reaction Paper V: CC

What is classical conditioning? Define the following: UCS, UCR, CS, CSR and provide a NOVEL example of CC in action

PLEASE TURN THESE IN AFTER CLASS!

Conditioning

Acquisition Response is established/ strengthened Stimulus evokes a CR Strengthening of a CR

Extinction Diminishing of a CR UCS does not follow a CS

Spontaneous Recovery Reappearance, after a rest period

Strengthof CR

Pause

Acquisition(CS+UCS)

Extinction(CS alone)

Extinction(CS alone)

Spontaneousrecovery ofCR

Classical Conditioning

Stimulus GeneralizationTendency for a stimuli similar to CS to

evoke similar responses

Principles of CC

No conscious effort Advertising Love

Strength of UCS Strong enough ->

UCR

Frequency & timing of pairings Many trials NS shortly before UCS

Higher Order Conditioning - My Fear of Pajamas

Initial conditioningNS(dark)+UCS(thunder) UCR(fear)CS(dark) CR(fear)Higher order conditioningNS(pajamas)+CS(dark) CR(fear)CS(pajamas) CR(fear)

Operant Conditioning (Skinner (1904-1990)

Beh operates (acts) on environment Produces consequences (reinforcer or

punisher)Consequences -> future behavior

Beh increases in response to reinforcer Beh decreases in response to punisher Automatic response to consequences

Operant Conditioning

Reinforcer Strengthen behavior it follows

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement Reinforcing desired behavior each time Rapid learning & extinction

Partial Reinforcement Reinforcing behavior part of the time Slower acquisition & extinction

Punishment

Punishment Decreases behavior

that it follows

Powerful controller of unwanted behavior

Problems with Punishment

Punished behavior is not forgotten Returns in absence

of P

Increases aggression Abused delinquents

Creates fear Generalizes

Does not -> desired behavior Reinforcement tells

you what to do Punishment tells

you what not to do Combination best

Principles of Consequences

Primary consequence Innately reinforcing/punishing stimulus Impacts a biological need

Secondary consequence Conditioned reinforcing/punishing Learned through association with

primary consequences

Positive Adding X

Reinforcer (desirable - candy/$)Punisher (undesirable - spanking)

Negative Removing X

Reinforcer - (undesirable - pain from headache)

Punisher (desirable - dessert)

Principles of Consequences

Intrinsic Provided by actor

Reinforcer: satisfaction for a job well donePunisher: guilt over moral transgression

Extrinsic Provided by others

Reinforcer: paycheckPunisher: fired

Principles of Consequences

Consequences

Reinforcer or Punisher?Increasing or decreasing beh?

Increase = reinforcer Decrease = punisher

Positive or Negative?Adding or taking away?

Add = positive Taking away = negative

Group Activity V: Operant C

Groups of 3-4 address this issue: Ten year old girl won’t clean her bedroom.

Use operant techniques to make her room once a week

Include 1 + & - punisher/reinforcer (4 total) Note whether they are primary or

secondary & intrinsic or extrinsic

PLEASE TURN IN AFTER CLASS!

Observational Learning

Associations inefficient way to learn new behavior Learning by

observing & imitating/modeling others

Observational Learning

Bobo Doll Studies (1960s) video

Learn via conditioning of others Vicarious consequences

Observational Learning

Violence in TV, video games & music Associated with aggressive behavior

Prosocial Behavior Positive, constructive, helpful behavior Can also be learned via observation

Positive role models

Modeling

Modeling not inevitable Type/power of model Situation Actor personality

Summary: Learning

3 types of learning Association - classical conditioning Consequences - operant conditioning Modeling - observational learning