Download classical conditioning

Learning
Define Learning: (15 mins)
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Distribute Handout/Learning Quiz
As a class, decide which events are examples of
learning and which are not.
Have students defend their responses
Then provide the following definition: (have students
write it down)
Learning refers to the relatively permanent change in a
subject’s behavior to a given situation brought about by
his/her repeated experiences in that situation, provided that
the behavior change cannot be explained on the basis of
native response tendencies, maturation, or temporary states
of the subject (i.e., fatigue, drugs, etc).
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Any changes in answers?
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CLASSICAL CONDITIONING: (45 mins)
Why is Classical Conditioning considered learning?
Who is Pavlov?
Associative Learning
Classical Conditioning (associate stimuli)
UCS – Unconditioned Stimulus
UCR – Unconditioned Response
CS – Conditioned Stimulus
CR – Conditioned Response
Acquisition – “Initial Learning” The initial stage where the
associating of a neutral stimulus with an UCS occurs so that
a CR is elicited
Extinction – The diminishing of CR, when a UCS does not
follow a CS
Spontaneous Recovery – The reappearance (after a period
of time) of an extinguished CR.
Generalization – The tendency, once there is a CR for
stimuli similar to the CS to elicit similar responses.
Discrimination – The learned ability to distinguish between
a CS and stimuli that do not signal a UCS.
Exercise on Human Taste Aversions (10 mins)
Get a volunteer to tabulate result
Compare to Rozin’s results of 143 subjects
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82% disliked the clean-flyswatter soup – 4 or less
58% disliked the new flyswatter soup
76% disliked the comb soup
71% disliked the dog bowl soup
Only 34% would pass on the dropped cookie (grass
has few negative associations)
84% would reject the waiter bite cookie
31% would reject the acquaintance cookie
16% would reject the friend cookie
Why is Classical Conditioning important? It is the one
way that virtually all organisms learn to adapt to their
environment. It also demonstrated how learning (and other
mental processes) can be studied objectively
What are some current day applications of Classical
Conditioning?
Drug & Alcohol abuse treatments
Medical uses (pg 256)
Psychological treatment of fears
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Is Operant Conditioning “Associative Learning?” – yes
What is Operant Conditioning?
Behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or
diminished if followed by a punisher.
Respondent Behavior – automatic response to stimulus
(Classical Conditioning)
Operant Behavior – Operates on the environment, producing
consequences
Law of Effect – rewarded behavior is likely to recur
Operant Chamber – Skinner Box
Shaping – Reinforcers gradually guide one toward a desired
behavior
Principals of reinforcement – What is a reinforce?
Primary?
Secondary? (conditioned)
Reinforcement Schedules
Continuous reinforcement
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
- Fixed-ratio
- Variable –ratio
- Fixed-interval
- Fixed-ratio
EXERCICE ON REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES
Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment
o Negative Reinforcement Quiz – with discussion
o Operant Conditioning Consequence Matrix – with
discussion
Cognition & Operant Conditioning – how do they fit?
Applications:
 Transforming couch potatoes with operant
conditioning
 Addressing superstitious behaviors
 Modifying an existing behavior
LEARNING BY OBSERVATION
Modeling – observing & imitating
Mirror Neurons – frontal lobe neurons – fire when observing
Bandura – Bobo doll
We are more likely to imitate those we believe are
similar to ourselves (or someone successful or
admirable)
Pro-social behaviors
Positive, helpful models – example MLK,
European Christians that risked their lives to
rescue Jews.
This is one of the true significant things about
observational learning.
TV & Observational Learning
Correlation – between TV violence & increased
crime (causation?)
Maybe naturally aggressive children prefer violent
TV
Maybe neglected children are more aggressive
and more often left in front of the TV
Acquiring a skill through observation
Give a personal example.
Current Applications:
Fear control
Helping Socially withdrawn children