Chapter 4 Learning (III)

Cognitive Learning

Principle of Contiguity: the association of events in time and space

Contiguity has been used to explain the association of a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning, and the association of a behavior and its consequences in operant conditioning

Cognitive Factors in Associative Learning

In Classical Conditioning Robert Rescorla’s experiment(1968) CS is a index of prediction Overshadowing—competition

between two CS’s (forward) Blocking—

(Kamin,1968,69) Conditioned taste aversion

In Operant Conditioning1. Intrinsic motivation—the

desire to perform a behavior effectively and for its own sake

2. Overjustification effect3. Learned helplessness

Latent Learning — learning that occurs without the reinforcement of overt behavior

E. Tolman and C. H. Honzik’ s studies (1930)

Cognitive map— a mental representation of

physical reality （ of the layout one’s environment ）

The study of behavioral geography (Parfit,1984)

When we mark important places and landmarks in the city

Undesirable place—small and far

Desirable place—big and near Reflects our life experience

and depends on our SES

Three types of knowledge in our cognitive map (Thorndyke, etc.1981)

landmark knowledge—imaginal and propositional representation

route-road knowledge—procedural and declarative knowledge

survey knowledge—can be represented imaginally or propositionally

Insight—a sudden understanding about what is required to solve a problem

Wolfgang Kohler

1887-1967

Mentality of Apes

Observational Learning— learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others

Albert Bandura (1925- )

Stanford University

Mirrors in the Brain

Modeling—the process of observing and imitating a behavior

Observational learning is seen in animals as well as humans

English titmouse has learned how to open cardboard caps on milk bottles to swipe milk and cream from its human neighbors

Four factors identified by Bandura (1986) that account for O.L.

1. You must pay attention to model’s actions;

2. You must remember the model’s actions;

3. You must have the ability to produce the actions;

4. You must be motivated to perform the actions.

Social Learning Theory

Social behavior is learned chiefly through observation and the mental processing of information

Prosocial behavior and aggression