copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 6 learning part one

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Learning Part Learning Part OneOne

I CAN I CAN

• Identify the major terms used in the psychological study of learning.



Behaviorists vs. Cognitive Behaviorists vs. Cognitive PsychologistsPsychologists

BehavioralLearning only occurs with

behavior since we can observe behavior

All things which organisms do — including acting, thinking and feeling —should be regarded as behaviors

Forms of learning, such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning, that can be described in terms of stimulus and response

Cognitive The behavioral view is too

limiting… one must consider mental processes in learning that cannot be seen

Includes processes such as memory, association, concept formation, language, attention, perception, action, problem solving and mental imagery


Instinct BehaviorInstinct Behavior

• Innate behaviors ... not greatly influenced by experience

Without learning we

would have to depend upon reflexes and instincts


HabituationHabituation A simple form of learningA simple form of learning

• Learning NOT to respond to a stimulus that is repeated.

Ignoring traffic noise if you liveon a busy street


• Habituation is important in filtering the large amounts of information received from the environment.

• By habituating to less important signals, an animal can focus on the most important features of its environment

Prairie dogs give alarm calls when mammals, large birds, or snakes approach.

When prairie dog towns are located near trails used by humans, giving alarm calls every time a person walks by is a waste of time and energy for the group.


Mere Exposure EffectMere Exposure Effect • A learned preference for stimuli to which

we have been previously exposed… even if they were unpleasant

• The more often a person is seen by someone, the more pleasing and likeable that person appears to be.

Humans prefer stimuli to which they have been previously exposed to


Complex Forms of Complex Forms of LearningLearning

1. Classical Conditioning Connections between TWO stimuliExample: Associating the 11:52 am bell with lunch

BEHAVIORS ARE INVOLUNTARY

2. Operant Conditioning Connect actions with rewards and

punishmentExample: Training a dog to climb trees

CAN I?CAN I?

• Identify the major terms used in the psychological study of learning.


copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 6 learning part one

Documents

instinctscopyright allyn

onecopyright allyn bacon

treescopyright allyn

behaviors forms of learning

operant conditioning

major terms

terms of stimulus

alarm calls