Transcript Chapter 6 - Learning

Learning
• A relatively permanent change in an
organisms behavior due to experience
Learning
• Classical Conditioning
– Ivan Pavlov
• Operant Conditioning
– BF Skinner
• Observational Learning
– Albert Bandura
Behaviorism
• The idea that Psychology should be based
on observable behavior and NOT on
thoughts, feelings, or internal motivation
• 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)
Concepts associated with
Classical Conditioning
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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
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
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
BF Skinner
• BF Skinner
– Skinner conditioned pigeons to do very “UN pigeonlike” 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
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
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
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?
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)
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Observational Learning