Download File

Learning
Chapter 8
1
Learning
• Learning is a relatively permanent change in
an organism’s behavior due to experience.
• How do we learn things?
– Associative Learning
– Observational Learning
2
Associative Learning
3
Associative Learning
• Classical Conditioning
– Associating two stimuli
• Operant Conditioning
– Associating a response with a consequence
4
Behaviorism
• John Watson
• Behaviorism
1. Psychology =
objective science
2. Study behavior w/out
mental processes
5
Classical Conditioning
Sovfoto
• A neutral stimulus that signals an
unconditioned stimulus begins to produce a
response that anticipates and prepares for the
unconditioned stimulus
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
6
Classical Conditioning Terms
• Neutral Stimulus
• Unconditioned Stimulus
• Unconditioned Response
• Conditioned Response
7
Pavlov’s Experiments
• Pavlov paired tone when feeding dogs
• Over time, dogs salivated with tone
• Can you identify the following terms in the
experiment?
• Neutral Stimulus
• Unconditioned Stimulus
• Unconditioned Response
• Conditioned Response
8
9
Acquisition
• Acquisition is the initial stage in classical
conditioning
1. NS needs to come before the US.
2. Only ½ second between stimuli
10
Acquisition
11
Extinction
When the US does not follow the CS, CR begins
to decrease and eventually causes extinction.
12
Spontaneous Recovery
13
Generalization and Discrimination
• Generalization – CR with stimulus similar to CS
• What might be an example of that for Pavlov’s
experiment?
• Discrimination – distinguishing between CS and
other stimuli.
14
Biological Predispositions
John Garcia
15
Courtesy of John Garcia
Garcia showed that the duration
between the CS and the US may be
long (hours), but yet result in
conditioning. A biologically adaptive
CS (taste) led to conditioning and not
to others (light or sound).
Biological Predispositions
Even humans can develop classically to
conditioned nausea.
16
Applications of Classical Conditioning
Watson researched
conditioning with infants 
“Little Albert” Experiments
Brown Brothers
John B. Watson
17
Applications of Classical Conditioning
1. Conditioning can be used to get rid of bad
behavior (limited ability)
2. Classical conditioning can aid in drug
therapies
18
Operant vs Classical Conditioning
• Classical = respondent
behavior (automatic)
• Operant = behavior
operates on the
environment for
predictable consequence
19