Download Learning - Knob

Learning and Behavior
Watson, Thorndike, and Skinner
Accelerated Psychology
Council Rock South
Watson
•
One of the first psychologists to recognize the real-life
implications of Pavlovian theory.
•
Founded American behaviorism and enthusiastically promoted Pavlov’s
ideas.
•
Famous experiment was the “Little Albert” experiment
-Deliberately established a rat phobia in an 11 month old boy named
Albert to demonstrate how a phobia might be learned
“Little Albert” Experiment
-Gave the child a furry rat to play with
Result: no fear
"Little Albert" YouTube
-The child hated loud noises, researchers hit a hammer against a steel bar
Result: the child became scared
-Offered the child the rat for the second time while hitting the steel bar at
the same time
Result: child became scared again
-Repeated the procedure several times then offered the child the rat alone
without any noise
Result: child fell over, cried, and crawled away as fast as he could
Phobias
What are you
afraid of?
Phobia: when fear of an object or situation becomes irrational and
interferes with normal activities.
Little Albert Experiment
In 1920 John Watson and Rosalie Rayner deliberately established a rat phobia in
in an 11-month-old boy named Albert.
Albert was not afraid of rats, but he was afraid of loud noises or scary faces.
When researchers gave Albert a rat they struck a steel bar with a hammer to
develop a fear of rats in Albert.
Taste Aversion: When the mind has
resistance to a certain food or smell because of bad
past experiences or sickness while eating that food.
- For instance, a kid is eating broccoli
and carrots and gets sick while eating
them and no longer wants to eat that
food for a long period of time.
Therefore that is an example of Taste
Aversion.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as
instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that
occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.
Reinforcement vs. Punishment
Reinforcement vs. Punishment
Thorndike YouTube
Thorndike
- Psychologist who used operant conditioning . Best known for
his theory called the law of effect, it emerged from his study
on how cats would escape puzzle boxes.
Law of Effect- Rewarded behaviors, are more likely to occur
again.
Skinner
Skinner YouTube
• Skinner was an
American
psychologist,
behaviorist, author,
inventor, and social
philosopher.
• Used the Skinner
box for a classical
demonstration of
operant
conditioning.
The Skinner Box: Rat presses a bar,
then a food pellet or drop of water is
automatically released.
Behavioral researchers have used the
Skinner box and similar devices to
discover various techniques and
applications of operant conditioning.
A primary reinforcer is an innately reinforcing stimulus such as one
that satisfies a biological need.
Example: getting food or being relieved of an electric shock.
Secondary Reinforcer- a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power
through its association with a primary reinforcer. Also known as:
Conditioned reinforcer
Example: If a rat in a Skinner box learns that a light means he will be
fed, he will work to turn on the light.