BehavioralismBehavioralism

Psychological perspective that emphasizing Psychological perspective that emphasizing the role of the role of learninglearning and and experienceexperience in in

determining behavior. A strict behavioralist determining behavior. A strict behavioralist believes that babies are believes that babies are tabula rasa tabula rasa and the and the study of psychology should focus purely on study of psychology should focus purely on observable behaviors and not unobservable observable behaviors and not unobservable

thoughts.thoughts.

Associative learning – learning that Associative learning – learning that certain events occur togethercertain events occur together

Classical conditioning – An Classical conditioning – An INVOLUNTARY behavior is determined by INVOLUNTARY behavior is determined by what PRECEDES it what PRECEDES it

Operant conditioning – rewards and Operant conditioning – rewards and punishment; A VOLUNTARY behavior is punishment; A VOLUNTARY behavior is determined by the anticipation of determined by the anticipation of something that FOLLOWS it.something that FOLLOWS it.

Which is which?Which is which?

1. A child is attacked by 1. A child is attacked by a dog. The child a dog. The child now fears all dogs.now fears all dogs.

2. You do your 2. You do your homework every homework every night to get good night to get good grades and avoid grades and avoid punishment.punishment.

Classical – involuntary, stimulus precedes behavior

Operant – voluntary, stimulus follows behavior

Ivan Pavlov’s ExperimentsIvan Pavlov’s Experiments

Pavlov paired a Pavlov paired a neutral stimulus (a neutral stimulus (a bell) with a meat bell) with a meat powder (which powder (which made the dog made the dog salivate). salivate). Eventually, dog Eventually, dog salivates to bell salivates to bell alonealone

Identifying PartsIdentifying Parts

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)Meat powderMeat powder

Unconditioned Response (UCR)Unconditioned Response (UCR)SalivationSalivation

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)Conditioned Stimulus (CS)BellBell

Conditioned Response (CR)Conditioned Response (CR)SalivationSalivation

* Hint: replace “conditioned” with “learned” to make * Hint: replace “conditioned” with “learned” to make it more intuitive.it more intuitive.

Little AlbertLittle Albert

John Watson – famous John Watson – famous behavioralistbehavioralistLittle Albert – 11 month old Little Albert – 11 month old orphanorphanShowed him a white rat. No Showed him a white rat. No fear.fear.Made a loud noise. Albert Made a loud noise. Albert cried.cried.Showed him a white rat Showed him a white rat andand made a loud noise. Albert made a loud noise. Albert cried. Repeated several times.cried. Repeated several times.Eventually Albert cried at white Eventually Albert cried at white rat alone.rat alone.

Identify the partsIdentify the partsUnconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Loud noise

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Fear/crying

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

White rat

Conditioned Response (CR)

Fear/crying

Watson on childcareWatson on childcare

“ “ Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to formed, and my own specified world to bring them up and I’ll guarantee to take bring them up and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might become any type of specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, select—doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, and yes, ever beggarman and thief, and yes, ever beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.” (1930)of his ancestors.” (1930)

DefinitionsDefinitions

Acquisition – initial learning of the stimulus-response Acquisition – initial learning of the stimulus-response relationship (learning that bell means meat powder)relationship (learning that bell means meat powder)Extinction – diminished response to the conditioned Extinction – diminished response to the conditioned stimulus when it is no longer coupled with UCS. (stop stimulus when it is no longer coupled with UCS. (stop giving meat powder with bell and dog will stop salivating giving meat powder with bell and dog will stop salivating to bell)to bell)Spontaneous recovery – reappearance of an Spontaneous recovery – reappearance of an extinguished CR after a rest. extinguished CR after a rest. Generalization – the tendency to respond to any stimuli Generalization – the tendency to respond to any stimuli similar to the CS (Dog salivates to other noises)similar to the CS (Dog salivates to other noises)Discrimination – the ability to distinguish between the CS Discrimination – the ability to distinguish between the CS and similar stimuli (Dog only salivates to specific tone)and similar stimuli (Dog only salivates to specific tone)

Application to Little AlbertApplication to Little Albert

If Little Albert generalized, what would we expect to happen?If Little Albert generalized, what would we expect to happen? – He might cry at the sight of similar objects (he did – rabbit, dog, sealskin He might cry at the sight of similar objects (he did – rabbit, dog, sealskin

coat, some rumors – Santa’s beard)coat, some rumors – Santa’s beard)How could we teach Little Albert to discriminate?How could we teach Little Albert to discriminate? – Continually expose him to stimuli similar to the rat, but only make the Continually expose him to stimuli similar to the rat, but only make the

loud noise when exposing him to the ratloud noise when exposing him to the ratHow could Little Albert’s conditioning be extinguished?How could Little Albert’s conditioning be extinguished? – Continually expose him to a white rat without making the loud noise Continually expose him to a white rat without making the loud noise

(unfortunately, this was never done because Little Albert was adopted (unfortunately, this was never done because Little Albert was adopted soon after the original experiments (he would be 83 now if he is still soon after the original experiments (he would be 83 now if he is still alive – probably scared of rats!)alive – probably scared of rats!)

If Little Albert is still alive, his fear of white rats is likely to have If Little Albert is still alive, his fear of white rats is likely to have been extinguished (no loud noise when he sees a rat). been extinguished (no loud noise when he sees a rat). However, occasionally, when he sees a rat, he may find that his However, occasionally, when he sees a rat, he may find that his heart races for a second or two. What is this called? heart races for a second or two. What is this called? – Spontaneous recoverySpontaneous recovery

On your ownOn your own

With your partner, practice with the terms With your partner, practice with the terms my completing the worksheet.my completing the worksheet.

A friend has learned to associate the sound of a dentist’s A friend has learned to associate the sound of a dentist’s drill to a fearful reaction because of a painful experience drill to a fearful reaction because of a painful experience

she had getting a root canal. In this example, what is the:she had getting a root canal. In this example, what is the:

– UCS? UCS? Pain from the drillPain from the drill– UCR? UCR? FearFear– CS? CS? Sound of Sound of

the drillthe drill– CR? CR? FearFear

Using the example in question 4, give an example of how Using the example in question 4, give an example of how each of the following may occur:each of the following may occur:

Extinction: if the pain does not result when the Extinction: if the pain does not result when the drill is used, the CS (fear) will diminish.drill is used, the CS (fear) will diminish.Spontaneous recovery: the child returns for a Spontaneous recovery: the child returns for a visit the next day and the sound of the drill elicits visit the next day and the sound of the drill elicits fear again.fear again.Generalization: the child becomes fearful of the Generalization: the child becomes fearful of the sound of any motorsound of any motorDiscrimination: the child learns that only the high Discrimination: the child learns that only the high pitched dentist drill is associated with pain and pitched dentist drill is associated with pain and not a low pitch hum of the vacuum cleaner.not a low pitch hum of the vacuum cleaner.

A BMW commercial has lots of pretty people in it. People A BMW commercial has lots of pretty people in it. People who watch the commercial find the people pleasing who watch the commercial find the people pleasing

to look at. With repeated viewing, they begin to to look at. With repeated viewing, they begin to associate the car with the pleasant feeling.associate the car with the pleasant feeling.

UCS?UCS? Pretty peoplePretty people

UCR? UCR? Feeling goodFeeling good

CS? CS? Sight of BMWSight of BMW

CR? CR? Feeling goodFeeling good

You get in a car accident and find you are afraid to get in a You get in a car accident and find you are afraid to get in a car.car.

UCS? UCS? Pain of the accidentPain of the accident

UCR? UCR? Fear Fear

CS? CS? Presence of carPresence of car

CR?CR? FearFear

You go to a fancy restaurant and decide to try an appetizer You go to a fancy restaurant and decide to try an appetizer you’ve never tried before – escargot. After dinner, you’ve never tried before – escargot. After dinner,

you go to a concert and get violently ill (from a you go to a concert and get violently ill (from a stomach virus that’s been going around). From then stomach virus that’s been going around). From then on, you can’t even look at snails without feeling sick.on, you can’t even look at snails without feeling sick.

UCS? UCS? Stomach virusStomach virus

UCR? UCR? Feeling sickFeeling sick

CS?CS? Sight of snailsSight of snails

CR? CR? Feeling sickFeeling sick

You are cruising on 440 at 75 mph when you see flashing You are cruising on 440 at 75 mph when you see flashing police lights behind you. You pull over and the police lights behind you. You pull over and the

policeman gives you a ticket. You get in insane policeman gives you a ticket. You get in insane amounts of trouble from your parents. The next amounts of trouble from your parents. The next

time you see flashing police lights, your heart rate time you see flashing police lights, your heart rate speeds up.speeds up.

UCS? UCS? Getting in trouble Getting in trouble from parentsfrom parents

UCR? Increased heart rateUCR? Increased heart rate

CS? Flashing lightsCS? Flashing lights

CR? Increased heart rateCR? Increased heart rate

Name one practical application of Name one practical application of classical conditioning.classical conditioning.

Stop drug or alcohol addiction by Stop drug or alcohol addiction by pairing a nausea-producing drug pairing a nausea-producing drug with the drug of addiction.with the drug of addiction.

Extinguish a drug addiction by Extinguish a drug addiction by administering a drug that blocks administering a drug that blocks the pleasant feeling normally the pleasant feeling normally elicited by the drug.elicited by the drug.

If a child is afraid of rabbits If a child is afraid of rabbits because one bit him when he was because one bit him when he was young, you can expose the child to young, you can expose the child to rabbits in safe environments rabbits in safe environments repeatedly until the behavior is repeatedly until the behavior is extinguishedextinguished

Cancer patients and Cancer patients and chemotherapychemotherapy. .

Cancer patients tend Cancer patients tend to associate the to associate the nausea produced by nausea produced by chemotherapy with chemotherapy with the hospital setting. the hospital setting. – UCS – chemotherapyUCS – chemotherapy

– UCR – nauseaUCR – nausea– CS – hospital CS – hospital – CR – nausea CR – nausea

Cognitive ProcessesCognitive Processes

It was once thought that It was once thought that cognitive processes cognitive processes weren’t involved in weren’t involved in classical conditioning. classical conditioning. Now we know better. For Now we know better. For example, therapists give example, therapists give alcoholics drink alcoholics drink containing a nausea-containing a nausea-producing drug to producing drug to condition them to avoid condition them to avoid alcohol. Because clients alcohol. Because clients KNOW that the drug is KNOW that the drug is what is actually causing what is actually causing the nausea, it doesn’t the nausea, it doesn’t work so well.work so well.

Biological PredispositionsBiological Predispositions

It was once believed that conditioning occurred the same in all animals It was once believed that conditioning occurred the same in all animals (and therefore you could study human behavior by studying any (and therefore you could study human behavior by studying any animal) and that you could associate any neutral stimulus with a animal) and that you could associate any neutral stimulus with a response. Not so. Animals have biological predispositions to response. Not so. Animals have biological predispositions to associating certain stimuli over othersassociating certain stimuli over others

ExampleExample – You eat a novel food and later get sick. You will be – You eat a novel food and later get sick. You will be conditioned to associate the taste of the FOOD with getting sick conditioned to associate the taste of the FOOD with getting sick (and thus avoid that food in the future), but NOT the music playing (and thus avoid that food in the future), but NOT the music playing in the restaurant, the plate it was served on, or the perfume your in the restaurant, the plate it was served on, or the perfume your neighbor was wearing.neighbor was wearing.

It is much easier to condition someone to have a fear of snake than It is much easier to condition someone to have a fear of snake than of flowers.of flowers.

Birds hunt by sight and will more quickly become conditioned to the Birds hunt by sight and will more quickly become conditioned to the SIGHT of tainted foodSIGHT of tainted food