Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning organism comes to associate two stimuli a neutral stimulus that signals an

unconditioned stimulus begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus

Classical Conditioning

Pavlov’s Dogs• Pavlov was studying how dogs salivated• He noted that when presented with food,

salivation was automatic (unconditioned response)

• If he rang a bell while he gave the food, after a while the bell alone would elicit the same response as the unconditioned one(conditioned response.)

• In other words, we can LEARN BEHAVIORS that previously were thought out of out our control

Classical Conditioning TermsUnconditioned Stimulus– A stimulus that naturally elicits a specific response

Unconditioned Response– A response that naturally follows a specific stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus— A stimulus that elicits a response it naturally has no connection to

Conditioned Response– A response to a stimulus that does not occur naturally

Pavlov’s Experiments

Classical Conditioning

Acquisition the learning process when the response is

first established

Extinction diminishing of a CR in classical conditioning, when a UCS

does not follow a CS in operant conditioning, when a

response is no longer reinforced

Classical Conditioning

Spontaneous Recovery reappearance, after a rest period, of

an extinguished CR

Classical Conditioning

Discrimination in classical conditioning, the learned

ability to distinguish between a CS and other stimuli that do not signal a UCS

Generalization tendency for stimuli similar to CS to elicit

similar responses

Classical Conditioning Higher Order Conditioning

When you pair another neutral stimulus with the neutral stimulus which will then elicit the same response not because it is conditioned, but because it is associated

Learned Helplessness Example of a cognitive processes is the condition of a human or animal that has learned to behave helplessly,

failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards.

Explains how a perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation can lead to depression and mental illness

Garcia Principle Conditioned taste Aversion Example of a biological predisposition

Biopsychosocial Influences on Learning

Pavlov’s Legacy

• Classical conditioning applies to other organisms

• Showed how to study a topic scientifically

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning• Uses rewards and

punishments to promote or deter a behavior

• We learn to associate a response and its consequences

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning type of learning in which behavior is strengthened

if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment

Law of Effect Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by

favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Operant Conditioning

Operant Behavior operates (acts) on environment produces consequences

Respondent Behavior occurs as an automatic response to

stimulus behavior learned through classical

conditioning

Operant Chamber

Skinner Box chamber with a bar

or key that an animal manipulates to obtain a food or water reinforcer

contains devices to record responses

Operant Conditioning

Reinforcer any event that strengthens the behavior

it follows Shaping

operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer approximations of a desired goal

Operant Conditioning

Principles of Reinforcement

Primary Reinforcer innately reinforcing stimulus i.e., satisfies a biological need

Conditioned Reinforcer stimulus that gains its reinforcing power

through its association with primary reinforcer

secondary reinforcer

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement reinforcing the desired response each time it

occurs Partial (Intermitent) Reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time results in slower acquisition greater resistance to extinction

Schedules of Reinforcement

Fixed Ratio (FR) reinforces a response only after a specified

number of responses faster you respond the more rewards you get different ratios very high rate of responding like piecework pay

Schedules of Reinforcement

Variable Ratio (VR) reinforces a response after an

unpredictable number of responses average ratios like gambling, fishing very hard to extinguish because of

unpredictability

Schedules of Reinforcement

Fixed Interval (FI) reinforces a response only after a

specified time has elapsed response occurs more frequently as the

anticipated time for reward draws near

Schedules of Reinforcement

Variable Interval (VI) reinforces a response at unpredictable

time intervals produces slow steady responding like pop quiz

Skinner’s ExperimentsReinforcement Schedules

Punishment

Punishment aversive event that decreases the

behavior that it follows powerful controller of unwanted

behavior

Punishment

Skinner’s ExperimentsPunishment

• Negatives of using punishment– Punished behavior is suppressed not

forgotten– Punishment teaches discrimination– Punishment can teach fear– Physical punishment may increase

aggression

Cognition and Operant Conditioning

Cognitive Map mental representation of the layout of one’s

environment Example: after exploring a maze, rats act as if

they have learned a cognitive map of it Latent Learning

learning that occurs, but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Cognition and Operant Conditioning

Overjustification Effect the effect of promising a reward for doing

what one already likes to do the person may now see the reward,

rather than intrinsic interest, as the motivation for performing the task

Cognition and Operant Conditioning

Intrinsic Motivation Desire to perform a behavior for its own

sake and to be effective Extrinsic Motivation

Desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishments

Extending Skinner’s UnderstandingBiological Predispositions

• Biological constraints predispose organisms to learn associations that are naturally adaptive

Skinner’s LegacyApplications of Operant Conditioning

• At school• In sports• At home• For self-improvement

Contrasting Classical and Operant Conditioning

• Similarities between classical and operant conditioning

• Differences between classical and operant conditioning

Contrasting Classical and Operant Conditioning