Learning

A relatively permanent behavior change due to experience

Learning

How do we learn?

Conditioning – the process of learning associations

Learning

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Learning

Operant Conditioning

Skinner’s Experiments

Credit: Falk/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Law of Effect

Thorndike’s Law of Effect: Behavior followed by a pleasant outcome (a “reward”) is likely to happen again.

Law of Effect

Thorndike’s Law of Effect: Behavior followed by a pleasant outcome (a “reward”) is likely to happen again.

Credit: Yale University Library

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BDujDOLre-8&vq=small#t=33

Law of Effect

Using Thorndike's law of effect as a starting point, Skinner developed the operant chamber (“Skinner box”) to study operant conditioning.

Shaping Behavior

Shaping–a procedure in which reinforcers (such as food) guide an animal’s actions toward desired behavior (also known as the method of successive approximations).

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=I_ctJqjlrHA&vq=small

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vGazyH6fQQ4&vq=medium

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=3-12N3kVh3Q&vq=small

Shaping Behavior

A rat shaped to sniff mines (left), and a manatee shaped to discriminate objects of different shapes, colors and sizes (right).

Credit: Khamis Ramadhan/Panapress/Getty Images Credit: Fred Bavendam

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BHYLcNSZM9o&vq=small

Types of Reinforcers

Reinforcer–any event that strengthens (increases the frequency of) a preceding response.

Types of Reinforcers

Reinforcer–any event that strengthens (increases the frequency of) a preceding response.

Types of Reinforcers

Types of Reinforcers

Types of Reinforcers

Types of Reinforcers

Primary reinforcer: An innately reinforcing stimulus

Conditioned reinforcer: a stimulus that gains its power to reinforce through its association with a primary reinforcer

Credit: Brurger:Twid

Punishment

Punishment–any event that weakens (decreases the frequency of) a preceding response.

Punishment

Swift and sure punishers can powerfully restrain unwanted behavior, including criminal behavior. The threat of harsh sentences is generally ineffective.

Credit: Andrew Bardwell

Learning

Operant Conditioning

Extending Skinner’s Understanding

Credit: Falk/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Cognition and Operant Conditioning

Latent learning–a type of learning that becomes apparent only when there is incentive to demonstrate (and in the absence of reinforcement).

Credit: Will and Deni McIntyre/Photo Researchers

Biological Predispositions

Biological constraints predispose organisms to learn associations that are naturally adaptive. For example, it’s easy to train a pigeon to peck to obtain food, but not to flap its wings to obtain food. Or to teach cats tricks that involve leaping high and landing on their feet!

Credit: Saota/Gamma Liaison/Getty Images

Learning

Operant Conditioning

Skinner’s Legacy

Credit: Falk/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Applications of Operant Conditioning

At school: Skinner introduced the concept of teaching machines that shape learning in small steps and provide reinforcements for correct rewards.Credit: Worth Publishers

Applications of Operant Conditioning

In sports: shaping can be used to train complex skills such as hitting a golf ball.

Applications of Operant Conditioning

At work: rewarding specific, achievable behaviors, rather than vaguely defined “merit,” increases workplace productivity

Applications of Operant Conditioning

At home: In children, reinforcing good behavior increases the occurrence of these behaviors. Ignoring unwanted behavior decreases their occurrence.

Credit: Worth Publishers

Learning

Learning by Observation

Bandura’s Experiments

Bandura’s Experiments

A child watches an adult actor behave either in an aggressive manner toward a stand-up doll (“Bobo”) or in a neutral manner. The child is taken to a room containing a few toys, and a Bobo doll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Pr0OTCVtHbU&vq=small

Learning

Learning by Observation

Applications of Observational Learning

Prosocial vs. Antisocial Effects

Prosocial models can have positive effects on behavior, but antisocial models can have negative, even destructive, effects.

Credit: Bob Daemmrich/The Image Works

Credit: Worth Publishers

Prosocial vs. Antisocial Effects

Credit: Bob Daemmrich/The Image Works

Credit: Glassman/The Image Works

Chapter Review

What is learning?

What is classical conditioning?

What is operant conditioning?

What is observational learning?