Learning

LearningClassical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Observational LearningIntro Into learning

Intro Into learningHumans are not born with a genetic layout for lifeLearning gives us flexibilityAdaptability- Natures Greatest Gift

Intro Into learningIf it can be learned then it is teachable

Change learned patterns through new learning

Intro Into learningLearning: a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experienceThree types of learningClassical ConditioningOperant ConditioningObservational/Social LearningIntro Into learningHow do we learn?Aristotle: We learn by associationLearned associations feed habitual behaviorsRepeating behaviors in a certain context lead those behaviors to be associated with the contexts

Intro Into learningAssociate Learning: learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequence

Intro Into learningConditioning is the process of learning associationsClassical conditioning: 2 stimuli and we can anticipate eventsOperant conditioning: learn to associate a response and its consequencesIntro Into learningKobe Cow

Intro Into learningConditioning is not the only type of learningObservational Learning- learn from others experience

Classical ConditioningClassical condition is learning by associationit is sometimes called reflexive learningit is sometimes called respondent conditioningThe Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov, and his dogs circa 1905discovered classical conditioning by serendipityreceived the Nobel Prize in science for discoveryPavlovs Experiment

Analysis of Pavlovs Study

Classical ConditioningAssociation: the KEY element in classical conditioningPavlov considered classical conditioning to be a form of learning through association, in time, of a neutral stimulus and a stimulus that incites a response.Any stimulus can be paired with another to make an association if it is done in the correct way (following the classical conditioning paradigm) Classical ConditioningTerminology of Classical ConditioningUnconditioned Stimulus (UCS): any stimulus that will always and naturally ELICIT a responseUnconditioned Response (UCR): any response that always and naturally occurs at the presentation of the UCSNeutral Stimulus (NS): any stimulus that does not naturally elicit a response associated with the UCR Classical ConditioningTerminology of Classical Conditioning (continued)Conditioned Stimulus (CS): any stimulus that will, after association with an UCS, cause a conditioned response (CR) when present to a subject by itselfConditioned Response (CR): any response that occurs upon the presentation of the CSClassical ConditioningCertain stimuli can elicit a reflexive responseAir puff produces an eye-blinkSmelling a grilled steak can produce salivationThe reflexive stimulus (UCS) and response (UCR) are unconditionedThe neutral stimulus is referred to as the conditioned stimulus (CS)In classical conditioning, the CS is repeatedly paired with the reflexive stimulus (UCS)Conditioning is best when the CS precedes the UCSEventually the CS will produce a response (CR) similar to that produced by the UCS Classical ConditioningThe Classical Conditioning paradigmparadigm is a scientific word similar to using the word recipe in a kitchen, I.e., this is how you do it UCS--------------------->UCRNS------------->UCS--------------------->UCRCS------------------------------------------>CRThats all there is to itClassical Conditioning

Unconditioned StimulusUnconditioned ResponseClassical Conditioning

Unconditioned StimulusUnconditioned Response

Neutral StimulusClassical Conditioning

Unconditioned StimulusUnconditioned Response

Neutral StimulusClassical Conditioning

Conditioned Response

Conditioned StimulusImportance of Classical ConditioningClassical conditioning is involved in many of our behaviorswherever stimuli are paired together over time we come to react to one of them as if the other were presenta particular song is played and you immediately think of a particular romantic partnera particular cologne is smelled and you immediately think of a romantic partnerPepper and SmokingTreatment for phobias and aversionsRelief for InsomniacsCancer and ChemotherapyAcne and the folksClassical Conditioning Classical ConditioningSome pointers on effective conditioningNS and UCS pairings must not be more than about 1/2 second apart for best resultsRepeated NS/UCS pairings are called training trialsPresentations of CS without UCS pairings are called extinction trialsIntensity of UCS effects how many training trials are necessary for conditioning to occurOther TermsGeneralization Learning on stimulus A changes behavior regarding stimulus BDiscrimination Learning on stimulus A doesnt change behavior regarding stimulus BExtinction Loss of learned behavior after training stopsSpontaneous Recovery Exhibiting learned behavior after extinction has occurred.Operant conditioningB.F. Skinner and Edward Thorndike

Operant conditioningDifferent from classical conditioning Classical conditioning is respondent behaviorBehavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli

Operant conditioningOperant conditioning: a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

Operant conditioningOperant behavior: behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequencesWe can distinguish by asking if the organism learns association between events it does not control or is it learning associations between its behavior and resulting events?Operant conditioningOperant conditioning works on the law of effect:Principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and that behaviors followed by un favorable consequences become less likely

Operant conditioningSkinner developed the Skinner box, or the operant chamber

Operant conditioningShaping: an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Operant conditioningReinforcers:Any event that strengthens behavior it follows

Operant conditioningTypes:Positive ReinforcementNegative ReinforcementOperant conditioningPositive ReinforcementIncreasing behaviors by presenting a positive stimuli, such as food. This should strengthen the response

Operant conditioningNegative ReinforcementIncreasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the responseTHIS IS NOT PUNISHMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ex. Pushing your soonze button or taking an aspirinOperant conditioningTypes of reinforcersPrimary: meets some biological needConditioned: gains reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (secondary)Ex. Light in the Skinner boxOperant conditioningPunishmentAn event that decreases the behavior it follows

Types of PunishmentPositive Punishment: Physical PunishmentEx. SpankingNegative Punishment: Removal of a pleasant stimulusEx. Grounding, taking away phone, etc.Operant conditioningNotes on physical punishment (Gershoff and Marshall, 2002)Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten9/10 parents of 3-4 year olds spankPunishment teaches discriminationPunishment can teach fearPhysical punishment could model aggression as way to cope with problemsOperant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementThe question with operant conditioning is: how often should one reinforce a behavior?Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementTwo schedules of reinforcement:Continuous ReinforcementPartial Reinforcement Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementContinuous Reinforcement:Reinforcing the desired response every time it occursExamples of continuous reinforcement:Also the way to reinforce when potty training

Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementContinuous Reinforcement:Extinction happens quickly once reinforcement is stopped

Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementPartial (intermittent) reinforcement:Reinforcing a response only part of the timeResults in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcementOperant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementTypes of partial reinforcementFixed-ration schedulesVariable-ratio schedulesFixed-interval schedulesVariable-interval schedulesOperant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementFixed Ratio Schedules: reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responsesExample: for every ten cups of coffee you purchase, the 11th is free

Free!!!

Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementVariable Ratio Schedules: a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a random number of behaviors have occurredExample:

Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementFixed-Interval schedules: a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsedExample:

Operant conditioning: schedule of reinforcementVariable Interval Schedules: a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervalsExamples: