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Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Conditioning and Learning
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Learning: Some Key Terms
• Learning: Relatively permanent change in behavior due
to experience
– Does NOT include temporary changes due to
disease, injury, or maturation
– Reinforcement: Any event that increases the
probability that a response will recur
• Response: Any identifiable behavior
– Internal: Faster heartbeat
– Observable: Eating, scratching
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Major Types of Learning
• Classical Conditioning: Event-Event learning
– Pavlov and his dogs; Watson and Little Albert
• Operant Conditioning: Behavior-Consequence
learning
– Thorndike; Skinner
• Observational Learning: watch and imitate
– Bandura and BoBo doll experiment
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Classical Conditioning and Ivan Pavlov
• Russian physiologist who initially was studying digestion
• Used dogs to study salivation when dogs were
presented with meat powder
• Also known as Pavlovian or Respondent Conditioning
• Reflex: Automatic, nonlearned innate response e.g., an
eyeblink
Figure 6.2
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6.2 An apparatus for Pavlovian conditioning. A tube carries saliva from the dog’s
mouth to a lever that activates a recording device (far left). During conditioning, various
stimuli can be paired with a dish of food placed in front of the dog. The device pictured here is
more elaborate than the one Pavlov used in his early experiments.
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Classical Conditioning Terminology
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
• An event that consistently and automatically elicits an
unconditioned response
Unconditioned Response (UR)
• An action that the unconditioned stimulus automatically
elicits
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
• Initially a neutral stimulus. After repeated pairings with
the unconditioned stimulus, the CS elicits the same
response as the US.
Conditioned Response (CR)
• The response elicited by the conditioned stimulus due to
the training.
Figure 6.3
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6.3 The classical conditioning procedure.
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Principles of Classical Conditioning
• Acquisition: Training period when a response is
reinforced (the CS is followed closely by the US)
• Expectancy: Expectation about how events are
interconnected
• Extinction: Weakening of a conditioned response
through removal of reinforcement
• Spontaneous Recovery: Reappearance of a learned
response following apparent extinction
Figure 6.4
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6.4 Acquisition and extinction of a conditioned response.
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Extinction & Spontaneous Recovery
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
An example of a conditioned emotional response
(fear)
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Classical Conditioning in Humans
• Phobia: Intense, unrealistic, irrational fear of a specific
situation or object (e.g., arachnophobia; fear of spiders;
see the movie!)
• Conditioned Emotional Response: Learned emotional
reaction to a previously neutral stimulus
• Desensitization: Exposing phobic people gradually to
feared stimuli while they stay calm and relaxed
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Operant Conditioning
(Instrumental Learning)
• Definition: Learning based on the consequences of
responding; we associate responses with their
consequences
• Law of Effect (Thorndike): The probability of a response
is altered by the effect it has; responses that lead to
desired effects are repeated; those that lead to
undesired effects are not
• Operant Reinforcer: Any event that follows a response
and increases its likelihood of recurring
• Conditioning Chamber (Skinner Box): Apparatus
designed to study operant conditioning in animals
• Response-Contingent Reinforcement: Reinforcement
given only when a particular response occurs
Figure 6.9
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6.9 The Skinner box. This simple device, invented by B. F. Skinner, allows careful study
of operant conditioning. When the rat presses the bar, a pellet of food or a drop of water is
automatically released.
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Timing of Reinforcement
• Operant reinforcement most effective when
given immediately after a correct response
• Superstitious Behavior: Behavior that is
repeated to produce reinforcement, even though
it is not necessary
• Shaping: Molding responses gradually to a
desired pattern by reinforcing successive
approximations to the target response
• Successive Approximations: Ever-closer
matches
Figure 6.10
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6.10 Reinforcement and human behavior. The percentage of times that a severely
disturbed child said “Please” when he wanted an object was increased dramatically by reinforcing
him for making a polite request. Reinforcement produced similar improvements in saying “Thank
you” and “You’re welcome,” and the boy applied these terms in new situations as well.
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Operant Extinction
• Definition: When learned responses that are NOT
reinforced gradually fade away
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
More Operant Conditioning Terms
• Positive Reinforcement: When a response is followed by
a reward or other positive event and the effect is to
increase the likelihood of it recurring (e.g., praising
desired behavior)
• Punishment: Any event that follows a response and
decreases the likelihood of it recurring (e.g., a spanking)
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Types of Operant Reinforcers
• Primary Reinforcer: Nonlearned and natural; satisfies
biological needs (e.g., food, water, sex)
• Secondary Reinforcer: Learned reinforcer (e.g., money,
grades, approval)
• Social Reinforcer: Learned desires for attention and
approval
• What did critics of Skinner say?
– Free will vs. determinism
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Modeling or Observational Learning
(Albert Bandura)
• Model: Someone who serves as an example in
observational learning
• Occurs by watching and imitating actions of another
person or by noting consequences of a person’s actions
– Occurs before direct practice is allowed
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Steps to Successful Modeling
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Pay attention to model.
Remember what was done.
Be able to reproduce modeled behavior.
If a model is successful or his/her behavior is rewarded,
behavior more likely to be imitated.
• Bandura created modeling theory with classic Bo-Bo Doll
(inflatable clown) experiments
• Skinner (shaping) vs. Bandura (modeling)
Psychology: A Journey, Second Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 6
Self-Managed Behavioral Principles
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Choose a target behavior
Record a baseline
Establish goals
Choose reinforcers
Record your progress
Reward successes
Adjust your plan as you learn more about your behavior