Miscellaneous stuff Miscellaneous stuff about learningabout learning

That I put in a powerpoint That I put in a powerpoint because I’m not in school because I’m not in school

todaytoday

Why doesn’t punishment Why doesn’t punishment work?work?

Negative side effectsNegative side effects– Fear and avoidance of the punisherFear and avoidance of the punisher– Doesn’t teach appropriate behaviorDoesn’t teach appropriate behavior– Can lead to aggression and/or rageCan lead to aggression and/or rage– Generally only suppresses unwanted Generally only suppresses unwanted

behavior (it will continue when the behavior (it will continue when the punisher is not around) rather than punisher is not around) rather than eliminating iteliminating it

Punishment appears to work Punishment appears to work because ofbecause of

Regression toward the meanRegression toward the mean– If Alexander (or Alexis) is having a If Alexander (or Alexis) is having a

terrible, horrible, awful, no good, very terrible, horrible, awful, no good, very bad day, it is likely that tomorrow he bad day, it is likely that tomorrow he (she) will be better no matter if he/she is (she) will be better no matter if he/she is punished or not. What is the likelihood punished or not. What is the likelihood that two such days will occur in that two such days will occur in sequence? Not likely.sequence? Not likely.

However, Alexander’s (Alexis’) However, Alexander’s (Alexis’) parents believe that their parents believe that their punishment worked! He (she) was punishment worked! He (she) was horrible, terrible, awful, no good and horrible, terrible, awful, no good and very bad, yesterday, we punished very bad, yesterday, we punished and now he (she) is better! Spanking and now he (she) is better! Spanking is great!is great!

Poor misguided parents! It is likely that Poor misguided parents! It is likely that their child would be better any way. their child would be better any way.

Likewise, parents often don’t believe that Likewise, parents often don’t believe that positive reinforcement works….also positive reinforcement works….also because of regression toward the mean.because of regression toward the mean.

Alexander (Alexis) is great one day and is Alexander (Alexis) is great one day and is positively reinforced. How likely is it that positively reinforced. How likely is it that a second such wonderful day will occur a second such wonderful day will occur tomorrow? Not likely!tomorrow? Not likely!

So the next day there is regression So the next day there is regression toward the mean, Alexander (Alexis) toward the mean, Alexander (Alexis) isn’t horrible but not as good as the isn’t horrible but not as good as the day before. day before.

The parents think “See, positive The parents think “See, positive reinforcement doesn’t work!”reinforcement doesn’t work!”

Poor misguided parents! Over time, Poor misguided parents! Over time, positive reinforcement will move the positive reinforcement will move the mean of the child’s behavior toward mean of the child’s behavior toward better average behavior. better average behavior.

NEW TOPIC: Observational NEW TOPIC: Observational LearningLearning

Observational learning is simply Observational learning is simply learning that takes place after learning that takes place after observing some one else. In observing some one else. In psychology we refer to this person as psychology we refer to this person as the “model.” Observational learning the “model.” Observational learning is sometimes called “modeling.” is sometimes called “modeling.”

Albert Bandura’s Social Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theoryLearning theory

Albert Bandura is technically a Albert Bandura is technically a behaviorist psychologist but his behaviorist psychologist but his theory of observational learning theory of observational learning involves cognitive components as involves cognitive components as well….well….

He identified four key He identified four key processesprocesses

– Attention – in order to learn through Attention – in order to learn through observational learning you must pay observational learning you must pay attention to another person’s behavior. attention to another person’s behavior. (You know from our sensation and (You know from our sensation and perception unit that you don’t always perception unit that you don’t always perceive all the stimuli around you.)perceive all the stimuli around you.)

Retention—in order to learn through Retention—in order to learn through observational learning you must observational learning you must store a mental representation of store a mental representation of what you saw in your memorywhat you saw in your memory

Reproduction – You have to reproduce Reproduction – You have to reproduce the behavior you saw – you must be able the behavior you saw – you must be able to replicate the behavior. This is not to replicate the behavior. This is not always possible. You sometimes must always possible. You sometimes must have specific skills/abilities to do have specific skills/abilities to do so….How many of us can sing like so….How many of us can sing like Beyonce, or swim like Michael Phelps, or Beyonce, or swim like Michael Phelps, or dance like Michael Jackson (could)…. Just dance like Michael Jackson (could)…. Just paying attention and remembering is not paying attention and remembering is not enough!enough!

Motivation – finally, you must want to Motivation – finally, you must want to reproduce the behavior. Whether or reproduce the behavior. Whether or not you do so depends on your not you do so depends on your estimation of the possible estimation of the possible consequences FOR YOU…. Often it consequences FOR YOU…. Often it depends on what consequences you depends on what consequences you observed the other person observed the other person encountering. encountering.

FINALLYFINALLY

We have looked at Classical We have looked at Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Observational learning as if they and Observational learning as if they were three separate and distinct were three separate and distinct things….things….

In reality they are not…. We may In reality they are not…. We may observe a model and replicate their observe a model and replicate their behavior (watch a coach execute a behavior (watch a coach execute a skill in sports and then copy it), and skill in sports and then copy it), and then be positively reinforced for that then be positively reinforced for that behavior (praise from the coach or behavior (praise from the coach or scoring points in a game). This would scoring points in a game). This would be a combination of observational be a combination of observational and operant conditioning.and operant conditioning.

STOP COPYING… These are the STOP COPYING… These are the directions for what I want you directions for what I want you

to do next!to do next! Form a group of 2 or 3 peopleForm a group of 2 or 3 people Get a textbookGet a textbook Turn to page 252Turn to page 252 Stop making fun of the chubby kidStop making fun of the chubby kid Read the section, paying close Read the section, paying close

attention to figure 6.27attention to figure 6.27 Design a behavior modification Design a behavior modification

program that might work for you….program that might work for you….

Be sure to include the behaviorBe sure to include the behavior The situations in which the behavior occurs The situations in which the behavior occurs

(controlling antecedents)(controlling antecedents) The level of the current behaviorThe level of the current behavior Reinforcement you currently receive for the Reinforcement you currently receive for the

behaviorbehavior Strategies to change the behaviorStrategies to change the behavior Reinforcement you will give for the new, Reinforcement you will give for the new,

desired behavior, ….everything up to step desired behavior, ….everything up to step 4….4….