LEARNINGChapter 8

BEHAVIORISM

Popular 1920s – 1960s Rose to prominence after WWI due to

decreasing popularity of Freud’s theories John B. Watson

viewed psychology as objective, quantitative science of observable behavior

LEARNING Learning

relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience

experience (nurture) is the key to learning

ASSOCIATION

Learning to associate two events

Event 1 Event 2

Sea snail associates splash with a tail shock

Seal learns to expect a snack for its showy antics

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Ivan Pavlov 1849-1936Russian physician/ neurophysiologistNobel Prize in 1904studied digestive secretions

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

We learn to associate two stimuli

Two related events:

Lightning

Stimulus 1

Thunder

Stimulus 2

Result after repetition

We see lightning

Stimulus

We wince anticipatingthunder

Response

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) effective stimulus that unconditionally-automatically

and naturally- triggers a response Unconditioned Response (UCR)

unlearned, naturally occurring automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus

salivation when food is in the mouth

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Conditioned Stimulus (CS) previously neutral stimulus that, after association

with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

Conditioned Response (CR) learned response to a previously neutral conditioned

stimulus

PAVLOV’S CLASSIC EXPERIMENTBefore Conditioning

During Conditioning After Conditioning

UCS (foodin mouth)

Neutralstimulus(tone)

Nosalivation

UCR (salivation)

Neutralstimulus(tone)

UCS (foodin mouth)

UCR(salivation)

CS(tone)

CR (salivation)

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Pavlov’s device for recording salivation

CONDITIONING Acquisition

the initial stage of learning, during which a response is established and gradually strengthened

Extinction diminishing of a CR in classical conditioning, when a UCS does not follow

a CS

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Spontaneous Recovery reappearance, after a rest period, of an

extinguished CR Generalization

tendency for a stimuli similar to CS to evoke similar responses

CLASSICAL OR PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

Discrimination in classical conditioning, the ability to distinguish

between a CS and other stimuli that do not signal and UCS

OPERANT CONDITIONING Operant Conditioning

type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment

Law of Effect Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by

favorable consequences become more likely and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

OPERANT CONDITIONING Operant Behavior

complex or voluntary behaviors push button, perform complex task

operates (acts) on environment produces consequences

Respondent Behavior occurs as an automatic response to stimulus behavior learned through classical conditioning

OPERANT CONDITIONINGB.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

elaborated Thorndike’s Law of Effectdeveloped behavioral technology

Skinner Box soundproof chamber with a bar or key that an animal presses or pecks to release a food or water reward contains a device to record responses

OPERANT CONDITIONING Reinforcer

any event that strengthens the behavior it follows Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement

Shaping conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide

behavior toward closer approximations of a desired goal

TYPES OF REINFORCERS Primary Reinforcer

innately reinforcing stimulus satisfies a biological need

Secondary Reinforcer conditioned reinforcer learned through association with primary

reinforcer

SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT Continuous Reinforcement

learning occurs rapidly extinction occurs rapidly

Partial Reinforcement reinforcing a response only part of the time results in slower acquisition greater resistance to extinction

SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Fixed Ratio (FR) reinforces a response only after a specified

number of responses Example:

Variable Ratio (VR) reinforces a response after an unpredictable

number of responses Example: like gambling, fishing

Both number of times

SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Fixed Interval (FI) reinforces a response only after a specified

time has elapsed Example:

Variable Interval (VI) reinforces a response at unpredictable time

intervals produces slow steady responding like pop quiz

Both focused on time

SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Variable Interval

Number of responses

1000

750

500

250

010 20 30 40 50 60 70

Time (minutes)

Fixed Ratio

Variable Ratio

Fixed Interval

Steady responding

Rapid respondingnear time forreinforcement

80

PUNISHMENT

Punishmentaversive event that decreases

the behavior that it followsProblems with punishment:

APPLICATIONS OF BEHAVIORISM School Work Home

OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Observational Learning learning by observing and imitating others Discovery of mirror neurons

Modeling process of observing and imitating behavior

Prosocial Behavior positive, constructive, helpful behavior opposite of antisocial behavior

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Albert Bandura

(Neobehaviorist b/c he uses unobservable processes in explanations) Bobo doll experiment Modeling

BEHAVIORISM WAS DISPROVED: Biological predispositions interfere:

Garcia and Koelling Brelands Rozin

BEHAVIORISM WAS DISPROVED: Cognitive Interference:

Tolman Rescorla Overjustification Emory Study

BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES Behavior Modification (Therapy) – applies learning

principles to eliminate unwanted behaviors. Counter conditioning (Classic) techniques – pairs the

trigger stimulus with a new response. Systematic Desensitization

Mary Cover Jones Wolpe Progressive relaxation Exposure therapy – can use imagination or reality to face a

feared situation Aversive Conditioning – pairs associations with unpleasant

feelings and the unwanted behavior. Examples Mowrer

Operant Conditioning Token Economy – rewards for desired behaviors Concerns?

OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Observational Learning learning by observing and imitating others Discovery of mirror neurons

Modeling process of observing and imitating behavior

Prosocial Behavior positive, constructive, helpful behavior

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Albert Bandura

(Neobehaviorist b/c he uses unobservable processes in explanations) Bobo doll experiment Modeling

EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORISM Overall positives

Many useful practical applications Empirical Perspective

Overall negatives Too deterministic Largely based on work with animals Use of behaviorists principles to control

others is unethical