CHAPTER 7 NOTES PART IIICognitive Learning Theory - Tolman

Observational Learning - Bandura

UPDATING SKINNER’S UNDERSTANDING WHAT DID HE MISS?

I. Skinner’s emphasis on external control of behavior made him an influential, but controversial figure. Many psychologists criticized Skinner for underestimating the importance of cognitive and biological constraints.

A. We learn to expect things from our environment. Our environment doesn’t control us.

B. Learning is an internal (cognitive) AND an external (environmental) process.

Cognitive Maps (E.C. Tolman)A mental representation of the layout of one’s environmentExample: after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

• The “hover” test• Stumble through your house at night in the dark• Know which roads to follow to get to your friend’s

house

Cognitive Maps

Cognitive Approach

This approach emphasizes abstract and subtle learning that could not be achieved through conditioning or social learning alone.

Some learning is not intentional, but occurs almost accidentally—a situation called latent learning. Learning that occurs, but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Expectancies are beliefs about our ability to perform an action and to get the desired reward. Expectancies affect learning.

LATENT LEARNING

OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Observational Learning (Albert Bandura) learning by observing and imitating others

Modeling process of observing and imitating a specific behavior ChildrenSee.wmv Social Learning Socio-Cognitive Learning

Prosocial Behavior positive, constructive, helpful behavior opposite of antisocial behavior

This series of photographs shows children observing and modeling aggressive behavior.

Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment

OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Mirror Neuronsfrontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so

may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy

YawningModelingAutism

Do what I say, not what I do—

This will teach you to hit your brother—

Why do you do that, you know you get in trouble for it—

Famous last words???

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

If you are intrinsically motivated to do something, then an extrinsic reward will actually DECREASE both learning AND motivation. Nunzi Preschool Art https://explorable.com/print/overjustification-effect

COGNITION AND OPERANT CONDITIONING

Intrinsic MotivationDesire to perform a behavior for its own sake and to be effective

Extrinsic MotivationDesire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishments

APPLICATIONS OFOPERANT CONDITIONING

School

Work

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