LearningChapter 5

Define LearningLearning is a relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of experience.

Associative Learninglearning that two events occur togethertwo stimulia response and its consequences

Learning to Associate 2 events

ConditioningConditioning is the process of learning associations.

Classical ConditioningIn classical conditioning, we learn to associate two stimuli and anticipate events. For example, we learn that a flash of lightening signals an impending crack of thunder, as so we start to brace ourselves when lightening flashes nearby.

2 stimuliFirst Stimulus - Yelling Word FlushSecond Stimulus - Hot Water!I RESPOND by jumping out of the way!

I have been CONDITIONED to jump out of the way when I hear the word Flush!After this happens a few times.

Classical ConditioningIvan Pavlov - Russian; Medical doctor who spent two decades studying the digestive system. Nobel Prize in 1904. Studied learning for the next three decades, by accident.

Classical ConditioningAfter studying salivary secretion in dogs, he knew that when he put food in a dogs mouth the animal would invariably salivate.

He also began to notice that when he worked with the same dog repeatedly, the dog began salivating to stimuli associated with the food

Classical ConditioningPavlovs Experiment:Through experimentation, Pavlov asked: If a neutral stimulus (something the dog could see or hear that would not normally cause salivation) regularly signaled the arrival of food, would the dog associate the two stimuli (the food and the neutral stimuli)?

What if we Link! Pavlovs dogs get conditioned

Classical Conditioning involves:Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response (usually a reflex)Food in Pavlovs case

Classical ConditioningUnconditioned Response (UCR)The unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulusSalivation in Pavlovs case

Pavlovs Experiment (continued):Just before placing food in the dogs mouth to produce salivation, Pavlov sounded a bell (Neutral Stimulus). After several pairings of bell and food, the dog began to salivate to the sound of the bell alone, in anticipation of the food.

Classical ConditioningConditioned Stimulus (CS)An originally irrelevant (neutral) stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned responseThe Bell in Pavlovs case

Classical ConditioningConditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulusSalivation (to the bell)

Classical ConditioningFor example:For Pavlov, the previously neutral stimulus was the tone. During conditioning, the tone was paired with the food (UCS). After conditioning, the tone, when presented alone, produced salivation in the dog. The tone is now considered the CS, and the dogs salivation to the tone alone is now considered the CR.

OH BABY !!!!

Classical Conditioning ExtraBaby Albert Experiment Fear ConditioningAn 11-month infant named Albert feared loud noises, but not white rats. In the experiment, when Albert was presented with a white rat and reached out to touch it, a hammer was struck on a steel beam behind his head.

What is the neutral stimulus that has now become a conditioned stimulus?What is the conditioned response to that stimulus?Lets Review:

Link to Animated Explanation

Five Major Conditioning ProcessesAcquisitionGeneralizationDiscrimination ExtinctionSpontaneous Recovery

Acquisition

The process of developing a learned responseThe subject learns a new response (CR) to a previously neutral stimulus (CS)

AcquisitionFindings: The time between presenting the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus needs to be short. For most species and procedures, about second works best.Conditioning is not likely to occur if the conditioned stimulus is presented before the unconditioned stimulus

Give an ExampleFrom what you know of classical conditioning, give an example of acquisition

GeneralizationThe tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responsesIE. A child bitten by a dog may fear all dogs.After 9/11, many people responded anxiously when planes flew near by.Baby Albert

Classical Conditioning - ExtraFive days after the testing, Albert showed generalization of his conditioned response by reacting with fear to a rabbit, a dog, and a sealskin coat.

DiscriminationThe learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

IE. A child bitten by a dog now fears all dogs. The same child learns, over time, that only certain types dogs should be feared (pit bull?), and others generally shouldnt (golden retriever?).

Extinction and Spontaneous RecoveryAfter conditioning, what happens if the conditioned stimulus occurs repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus..will it continue to elicit the conditioned response?

Extinctiondiminishing of a CR in classical conditioning, when a UCS does not follow a CS it breaks the association

Spontaneous Recoveryreappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished CRReview by watching this clip

OPERANT CONDITIONING

Operant ConditioningType of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reward, or diminished if followed by a punisher

Operant ConditioningWe repeat behavior that is followed by a reward

Operant ConditioningIn operant conditioning, we learn to associate a response and its consequence, and we repeat acts followed by rewards, and avoid acts followed by punishment. we learn that pushing a vending machine button relates to the delivery of a candy bar.

OH!THAT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL REPORTThe Vice-President in Charge of Sincerity

Operant ConditioningB.F. Skinners Experiments:Based on Edward Thorndikes LAW OF EFFECT states that rewarded behavior is likely to recurExperiments conducted with animals in an operant conditioning chamber (Skinner Box) a soundproof box, with a bar or key that an animal presses or pecks to release a reward of food or waterClick on my picture to learn about me!

Oh, not bad. The light comes on, I press the bar, they write me a check. How about you?

Operant ConditioningShaping while conditioning an animal to perform certain behaviors, reinforcers are successively given as the subject gets closer to the ultimate behavior goal

IE. If the purpose of putting a rat in a maze is to teach it to get from Point A to Point B while following a certain pathEvery time the rat makes a turn towards the right path, a reward is given. If it makes a turn towards the wrong path, NO reward is given.

Bathroom? Sure, its just down the hall to the left, jog right , left, another left, straight past two more lefts, then right, and its at the end of the third corridor on your right.

Operant ConditioningIf we can shape animals to respond to one stimulus and not to another, then obviously they can perceive the differences. (discrimination)IE. Some pigeons have been trained to be able to distinguish between Bach and Stravinsky.

IE. If the goal of a teacher is to get all students to strive for 100% accuracy on their spelling tests, then every time a student improves on successive spelling tests they should be rewarded. NOT just reward those that get a 100%.

Operant ConditioningReinforcement any event that increases the frequency of a preceding response, or strengthens the behavior that it followsIE. Being able to borrow the car after the dishes are done. A snack break after one-hour of study time.

Operant ConditioningPositive Reinforcement Strengthens (or ensures the continuation of) a response by presenting a typically pleasurable stimulus after a response. IE. Food for a hungry animal. Attention, approval, money for people.

I wrote another five hundred words. Can I have another Cookie?

Operant ConditioningNegative Reinforcement strengthens (or ensures the continuation of) a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulusIE. Taking aspirin to relieve a headache will increase the behavior of taking aspirin because it reduces or eliminates the pain. Smoking a cigarette to relieve stress will increase the behavior of smoking because it reduces or eliminates anxiety and pressure.

Shapingconditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer approximations of a desired goalSuccessive Approximationsreward behaviors that increasingly resemble desired behavior

Positive ReinforcementPositive ADDS a desirable stimulus, like getting a hug or watching TV.

Negative Reinforcement

Negative REMOVES an aversive stimulus

cleaning the room allows a child to escape a parent's nagging or like fastening a seatbelt to stop the annoying beeping

Operant ConditioningContinuous Reinforcement Reinforcing the desired response immediately, every time it occurs. Learning occurs quickly, but as soon as reinforcement ends, extinction occurs very quickly also.Training a dog to sit make him sit, give him a treat; make him sit, give him a treat; so on He learns to sit quickly but the behavior will become extinct quickly after several times of saying sit with no treat.

Operant ConditioningPartial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Reinforcing a response only part of the time. This results in slower acquisition of a response, but much greater resistance to extinction also.IE. Slot machines. You may win only once in long while, but youll keep playing because the reinforcement is worth it, and the habit may last a long time.

Operant ConditioningPartial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedules:Fixed-Ratio = a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces only after a specified number of responses.IE. Every 10th sale gets a prize.

Operant Conditioning Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedules:Variable-Ratio Schedule = a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responsesIE. Slot machines, fishing.

Operant ConditioningPartial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedules:Fixed-interval schedules = a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsedIE. At the end of every 30 minutes a new batch of cookies will be baked.

= a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervalsIE. Youve Got Mailyou dont know when you will get an email, but you are always checking for it.Variable-Interval Schedule

Operant ConditioningPunishment An event that decreases or eliminates the behavior that it followsMay be done by administering an undesirable consequence, or by withdrawing a desirable consequenceIE. Shock treatment and spanking are added, undesirable consequences, while taking away phone or car privileges withdraws desirable consequences.

PunishmentIssues:New Castle County Courthouse around 1900Physical punishments are not forgotten, just suppressed

They may increase aggressiveness by demonstrating that aggression is a way to cope with problems

Punishments may create fear

If punishment isnt delivered swiftly, or proportionally with regards to the crime, those punished may be confused, depressed, or helpless

Punishments still do not teach the proper behavior it only suppresses unwanted behaviors

Operant Learning review clip

Observational LearningObservational Learning is learning by watching and imitating others

Observational LearningFor example, a child sees his big sister burn her fingers on the stove has thereby learned not to touch it.

Observational LearningModeling is the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Observational LearningPro-Social Models exemplify positive, constructive, helpful behavior.

Anti-Social Models exemplify negative and hurtful behavior.

Observational LearningMirror Neurons in the frontal lobes are partially responsible for allowing humans to imitate simple language and emotions

Observational LearningAlbert Banduras Experiment The Bobo DollChildren exposed to an adult taking out their frustrations on a Bobo doll would imitate their punches and kicks when presented with a Bobo doll when they were frustrated.

Observational Learning is learning by watching and imitating othersThe process of observing and imitating a specific behavior is called Modeling