Discuss what learning is and how we learn
Chapter 7
Learning
Discuss what learning is and how we learn
Understand the principles of classical conditioning and operant conditioning as well as their differences.
Discuss how cognition and observation affect our learning
Objectives
“What is learnable we can potentially teach…What has been learned we can potentially change by new learning.” (Myers, 2011, p.265)
Learning
What is learning?
How do we learn?
We learn by association (conditioning)
We learn by observation
Learning
Learning – the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
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conditioning – process of learning associations
Behaviorism
Example: Jaws theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4
Classical Conditioning
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Ivan Pavlov
Pavlov’s dogs (video)
US, UR, NS, CS, CR
Examples
Classical Conditioning
Before Conditioning During Conditioning
US → UR (food → salivation) NS + US → UR
NS (tone) → no response After Conditioning
CS → CR (salivate to tone)
*note: – US always elicits UR; CR is less intense than UR
– conditional = learned (conditional upon associating the NS and the US)
– unconditional = automatic, unlearned
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Why should we care that a dog can be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a tone?
Many other responses to other stimuli can be classically conditioned in many other organisms. This is how we learn to adapt to our environment.
Pavlov’s studies are one reason why we study things objectively, in a lab, through quantitative (measureable) procedures.
Classical Conditioning
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Applications
Therapy: overcoming fears and addictions
Little Albert Experiment (video)
Associations can give rise to attitudes
Classical Conditioning
B. F. Skinner
Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement – any event that strengthens (increases the frequency of) a response/behavior it follows.
Shaping – using reinforcers to guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Method of successive approximations
Ignore all other responses
The Training Game
“Don’t Shoot the Dog” Karen Pryor
Operant Conditioning
Types of Reinforcers
Positive vs negative
Operant Conditioning
| Negative | Positive | |
| Reinforcement | Removes aversive stimulus Ex: No more curfew | Adds a desirable stimulus Ex: give allowance |
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Reinforcement Schedules
Continuous reinforcement
Operant Conditioning
| Fixed | Variable | |
| Ratio | FR – reinforce behavior after a set # of responses Ex: more points for every book read/word learned | VR – reinforce behavior after a seemingly unpredictable # of responses Ex: slot-machine |
| Interval | FI – reinforce after a fixed time period Ex: every hour of studying results in a reward | VI – reinforce after varying time intervals Ex: you continue studying because one day there will be a pop quiz |
Note on VR
Very hard to extinguish b/c unpredictable reinforcement
Reinforcers increase as the # of responses increases
Ratio schedule produces higher response rate; unpredictable (variable) schedule produces more consistent responding
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Applications
Examples are everywhere – schools, sports, military, work, home, personal goals, social life, etc.
Parenting: occasionally giving in to tantrums for the sake of peace and quiet intermittently reinforces tantrums (VR).
Dating: occasionally give your partner a gift every time they do something you like (VR).
Operant Conditioning
Punishment
Punisher – any consequence that decreases the frequency of a preceding behavior
Positive vs negative
“Punishment tells you what not to do; reinforcement tells you what to do.” (Myers, 2011, p.281)
Operant Conditioning
| Negative | Positive | |
| Reinforcement | Removes aversive stimulus Ex: No more curfew | Adds a desirable stimulus Ex: give allowance |
| Punishment | Removes desirable stimulus Ex: make you pay rent | Adds aversive stimulus Ex: curfew/grounded |
Classical: form associations between stimuli
you respond to stimuli automatically
you are acted upon (no control)
Operant: associate your own actions with consequences
you operate on the environment yourself to produce [rewarding or punishing] stimuli
you take action (have control)
Classical vs Operant Conditioning
What are some criticisms of conditioning?
We talk about conditioning animals, but is it ok to condition people?
What happens when we know we are being conditioned?
Discussion on Conditioning
Up until now, we have mainly focused on the nurture of learning and how we can be conditioned and shaped through experience. What is missing?
We are biologically prepared to learn some associations
Capacity for conditioning is constrained by our biology
Mental processes
Associations influence attitudes
latent learning – learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
there is an expectation effect (sign of cognition)
Learning
Albert Bandura – cognitive behaviorist
Bobo Doll Experiment (video)
Observational Learning
Discussion: Media and Violence
Does watching media violence cause violent behavior?
Observational Learning
