Classic theories of learning & cognition

CHDODEV L 3 – A (day 1)Behaviorism Pavlov, Skinner

Cognitivism Piaget

Classic theories of learning & cognition

Day 1• Behaviourism (Pavlov: classical conditioning),

operant conditioning- reinforcement & punishment) theories: B.F. Skinner (shaping – stability & extinction; operant conditioning – direct instruction)

Classic theories of learning & cognition

• Behaviourism (Pavlov: classical conditioning), operant conditioning- reinforcement & punishment) theories: B.F. Skinner (shaping – stability & extinction; operant conditioning – direct instruction)

• Learning according to behaviorists, a permanent change in observable behavior, is the result of experience, not maturation or other cause.

Classical conditioning

• Behaviorism – the science of observable behavior.

• Control of behavior is located in the environment

• Classical conditioning involves involuntary behavior.

• Watch and explain the theory• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRrBsoU3PVI

Classical conditioning and the following:• Phobias• Test anxiety; Math anxiety (sight of a math problem &

humiliation)• Afraid to go to a dental clinic/see a dentist• Feeling tired at the sight of a student with ADHD• Patients who get well just at the sight of their doctor• “very good” vs giving candy as praise (Extinction)• Persons who hate a certain race• Students learning to hate school, or drop out• The mere sight, smell, sound of something can elicit

sweaty palms, anxiety, shame, anger.• If a certain thing is associated with pleasant experience…

TPS:

• How would you help a preschool student who is afraid of the pet hamster?

• How would you help a child who is afraid of the mascot in a birthday party?

So what is classical conditioning?

Classical conditioning :• A form of conditioning in

which a neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that causes an involuntary response until the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and also causes the response.

• Extinction (classical conditioning) the conditioned stimulus and uncontrolled stimulus are repeatedly not paired until he conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response.

Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning

• Watson (little Albert) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBfnXACsOI

• Skinner (pigeon, rat)• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUwCgFSb6Nk

• Motivation & reward in learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-DgV2vixSo

Think about this:

• Relate Maslows hierarchy of needs to motivation, reinforcement & learning.

• If you told a joke and no one laughed, would tell the joke again?

• If you wore a shirt, and everyone complemented you, would you wear that shirt again?

• If you answered correctly, and got a candy, would you try to answer again?

• If you are a teacher and want your students to participate, would you give candy? ????

Operant conditioning and the following:

• Advertisement, social media• Rewards for good behavior &/or achievement

(external, internal)• Explain the picture• Explain the Behavior of a“Class clown”

Explain, give examples:

Behaviorism• Operant Conditioning involves voluntary

behavior. • Reinforcement increases the probability of a

behavior from occurring, and punishment decreases its probability.

• Negative reinforcement refers to increasing the probability of a behavior by removing n aversive stimulus.

• Shaping is used to train behavior that does not spontaneously occur, by reinforcing behaviors that come closer and closer to the target behavior.

Behaviorism• Continuous reinforcement is best for training new

behavior. • Intermittent reinforcement is best for maintaining

existing behavior. • Extinction occurs when reinforcement stops.• Teaching is viewed as the arrangement of reinforcers.

An application of operant conditioning is in direct instruction. It is effective for teaching basic skills and concepts, particularly for high-risk students.

• BF Skinner is one of the most famous behaviorists. He wanted to use science to make society better by carefully controlling behavior.

Thelma Mingoa, PhD 17

Theory & major theorist

Basic Aims

Emphasis: General Age trends for all children vs How individuals are different

Forces that drive development

Emphasis: Nature vs Nurture?

Domains of Development the theory explains well

Behaviorism (Learning Theory of Skinner)

To explain learned behavior

Focuses on individual differences, which are the result of different histories of reinforcement

The child is passive; reinforcement and punishment drive development. Behaviors that are reinforced are more llikely to reoccur. Emphasis is on observable behavior. Concepts of mind, cognition, & inner experiences are ignored. Useful for managing children’s behavior problems

nurture Any learned behavior. Does not explain innate behaviors, like smiling, or why some things are reinforcing.

Compare:

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

similarities

differences