Transcript Chapter 9: Conditioning and Learning

Chapter 9: Conditioning and
Learning
Outline
• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning
– types of reinforcement
– types of reinforcement schedules
– role of discriminative
• Vicarious learning
• Factors that influence modelling
Classical Conditioning
• Unconditioned Stimuli (national flag)
• Unconditioned Response (sense of
nationalism)
• Neutral or Conditional Stimulus (candidate)
• When flag is paired with candidate, he/she
elicits a sense of nationalism.
Classical Conditioning (continued)
• No voluntary control
• Multiple pairing of US and CS
• Works better for behavioral responses
(Pavlovian Dog) than for cognitive/affective
responses
• Can be chained [association can be
transferred]
• Influence behavior by triggering association
between conditional and neutral stimulus.
Operant Conditioning
• Altering behavior by associating each
behavior with consequences.
• A positive consequence will increase
probability of behavior and negative will
decrease.
• Applicable for voluntary behaviors
Reinforcement
• It refers to the consequences that come with
a given behavior.
• The probability of behavior depends on the
consequences of the behavior.
Types of Reinforcement
• Positive -- behavior is followed by a reward
or a positive consequence
• Negative -- behavior followed by the
removal of a negative consequence
• Punishment -- behavior followed by a
negative consequence.
• Extinction -- no consequence
Reinforcement Schedules
• Continuous -- consequence for every time
the behavior occurs.
• Fixed-Ratio -- consequence for every
predefined number of times the behavior
occurs
• Variable -- no set pattern
Pros and Cons of Different
Reinforcement Schedules
• Continuous is expensive and very effective,
but changes expectations.
• Fixed is less expensive, but less effective.
• Variable is less effective, but very
inexpensive, and not prone to extinction,
and does not influence expectations.
Shaping
• Changing behavior using small incremental
changes in behavior rather than a single big
shift in behavior.
Discriminative Stimuli
• The mere presence or absence of certain
stimuli can alter the likelihood of behaviors.
• This is related to the concept of
reinforcement except that it occurs before
the behavior.
• Most promotions are examples of
discriminative stimuli.
Vicarious Learning
• Changing one’s own behavior by observing
the behavior of others and the consequences
that occurred.
• Known as modeling.
• Can be used for developing new behaviors,
inhibit undesirable behaviors, facilitate
known desired behaviors.
Factors Influencing Vicarious
Learning (Modeling)
• Models who are attractive, credible, highstatus, experts are more effective.
• Vivid and detailed portrayal of modeled
behavior and consequences increases
modeling.
• Perceptive and confident people are able to
learn better.