LearningLearning – A lasting

change in behavior or mental processes that results from experience.

No topic is closer to the heart of psychology.

Shapes our thought and language, our motivations and emotions, and our personalities and perceptions.

Associative LearningAssociative Learning

– Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli, or a response and its consequences.

HabituationHabituation –

Learning not to respond to the repeated presentation of a stimulus.Simple form of

learning.Example – If you live

near a busy street, you learn to ignore the sound of traffic.

Mere Exposure EffectMere Exposure

Effect – A learned preference for stimuli to which we have been previously exposed.

Behavioral LearningBehavioral Learning

– Forms of learning, such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning, that can be described in terms of stimuli and responses.

Classical ConditioningClassical Conditioning –

Form of behavioral learning in which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the power to elicit the same innate reflex produced by another stimulus.

Learn to associate two stimuli and thus to anticipate events.Example – Lightening

strikes, we learn to anticipate the crack of thunder.

Neutral StimulusNeutral Stimulus – Any stimulus that

produces no conditioned response prior to learning.When it is brought into a conditioning

experiment, the researcher will call it a conditioned stimulus.

The assumption is that some conditioning occurs after even one pairing of the CS and UCS.

Pavlov’s DogsIvan Pavlov – Russian PsychologistDog experiment:

Before Conditioning (food not paired with tone) Food in mouth = Dog Salivation Tone = No Salivation

After Conditioning (food paired with tone) Tone + Food in mouth = Dog Salivation Tone = Salivation

Classical ConditioningUnconditioned Stimulus – A stimulus that

unconditionally – naturally and automatically – triggers a response (unconditioned response).

Unconditioned Response – The response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior learning.

Classical ConditioningConditioned Stimulus – An originally

irrelevant or neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response – The learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus that has become associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Another Example (Cancer Patient)Radiation Treatment (US) = Nausea (UR)

Waiting Room (CS) + Radiation Treatment (US) = Nausea (UR)

Waiting Room (CS) = Nausea (CR)

AcquisitionAcquisition – The initial learning stage in

classical conditioning, during which the conditioned response comes to be elicited by the conditioned stimulus.

Extinction and Spontaneous RecoveryExtinction – The weakening of a conditioned

response in the absence of an unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery – The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a time delay.

GeneralizationStimulus Generalization – The tendency to

respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimuli.Example – Dogs salivate in response to a tone

that is different, but somewhat similar to the CS.

Stimulus DiscriminationStimulus Discrimination – A change in

responses to one stimulus but not to stimuli that are similar.

Experimental NeurosisExperimental Neurosis – A pattern of erratic

behavior resulting from a demanding discrimination learning task, typically one that involves aversive stimuli.

Applications of Classical ConditioningExample:Taste-Aversion Learning – A biological

tendency in which an organism learns, after a single experience, to avoid a food with a certain taste, if eating it is followed by illness.

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning –A

form of behavioral learning in which the probability of a response is changed by its consequences – that is, by the stimuli that follow the response.

We learn to associate a response (our behavior) and its consequence.Repeat acts follow by

good results.Avoid acts followed by

bad results.

Law of EffectLaw of effect – The idea that responses that

produced desirable results would be learned, or “stamped” into the organism.

Operant ConditioningReinforcement – A condition (involving either

the presentation or removal of a stimulus) that occurs after a response and strengthens that response.

Punishment – Encourages us to learn to not repeat behaviors that bring about punishment.

Types of ReinforcementPositive Reinforcement – Add a desirable

stimulus.Example – Getting a hug; receiving a paycheck.

Negative Reinforcement – Remove an undesirable stimulus.Example – Fastening a seatbelt to turn off

beeping.

Reinforcement ContingenciesRelationships between a response and the

changes in stimulation that follow the response. AKA – How frequently reinforcement is given.Very important in learning.

Reinforcement SchedulesContinuous reinforcement – All correct

responses are reinforced.Shaping – Reinforcing responses that are similar

to the desired response.Intermittent reinforcement – Some, but not all

correct responses are reinforced (partial reinforcement).

Extinction – Response is weakened by the absence or removal of reinforcement.

Ratio Schedule – Reinforcement depends on the number of correct responses.

Reinforcement SchedulesInterval Schedule – A program by which reinforcement

depends on the time interval elapsed since the last reinforcement.

Fixed Ratio Schedule – Reinforcement is contingent on a certain, unvarying number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule – Number of responses required for a reinforcement varies from trial to trial.

Fixed Interval Schedule – Reinforcement is contingent on a certain, fixed time period.

Variable Interval Schedule – Programs by which the time period between reinforcements varies from trial to trial.

Primary ReinforcersPrimary Reinforcers – Reinforcers, such as

food and sex, that have an innate basis because of their biological value to an organism.

Conditioned / Secondary ReinforcersConditioned / Secondary Reinforcers – Stimuli,

such as money or tokens, that acquire their reinforcing power by a learned association with primary reinforcers.Token Economy – Therapeutic method by which

individuals are rewarded with tokens, which act as secondary reinforcers. Tokens can be redeemed for a variety of rewards and privileges.

Premack Principle – The concept that a more preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less-preferred activity.

Types of PunishmentPositive Punishment – Administer an

undesirable stimulus.Example – Spanking; a parking ticket.

Negative Punishment (AKA omission training) – Withdraw a desirable stimulus.Example – Time-out from privileges (such as

time with friends); revoked driver’s license.

Skinner’s Box

Applications of Operant ConditioningPrinciples can be

used (and have been used) to increase productivity:At SchoolIn AthleticsAt WorkAt Home

Insight LearningInsight Learning – A form of cognitive

learning, originally described by the Gestalt psychologists, in which problem solving occurs by means of a sudden reorganization of perceptions.Kohler and the Chimps!!!

Cognitive MapsCognitive Map – A mental representation of

physical space.Tolman!

Observational LearningHigher animals, especially humans, can learn

without direct experience, by observing or imitating others.

Observational LearningAlbert Bandura and the Bobo Doll

Brain Mechanisms and LearningLong-Term Potentiation – A biological

process, involving physical changes that strengthen the synapses in groups of nerve cells, which is believed to be the neural basis of learning.

Learning StylesVisual

Auditory

Tactile / Kinesthetic

Visual LearnersLearn by watching

people do things.Different colors help

them study and remember.Use a lot of highlighters.

Like to read instructions and other materials on their own.

Like to see demonstrations

Auditory LearnersLearn best by

listening.Do well with lectures

and class discussions.

Like to have teachers read directions to them.

Tactile / Kinesthetic LearnersLearn best through

hands-on activities.Excel in

experiments, demonstrations.

Typically do well in science.