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Learning
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A relatively permanent change in
behavior that comes as a result of
experience.
Not automatic
Not due to maturation
Three types of learning
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Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Observational learning
Classical conditioning
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A form of learning that occurs when
two stimuli that are presented together
become associated with each other
Pavlov and his dogs—dogs learned to
associate the ringing of the bell with
getting food. Soon they salivated at the
sound of the bell.
Pavlov’s dogs
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhq
umfpxuzI&feature=related
Unconditioned stimulus &
response
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UCS—unconditioned stimulus; an event
that automatically produces an
unconditioned response without any
training
UCR—unconditioned response; the
reaction that is automatically produced
when a UCS is present
Conditioned Stimulus and
Response
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CS—conditioned stimulus; neutral
stimulus that acquires the ability to
elicit a CR after being paired with UCS
CR—conditioned response; response
elicited by a CS that has been paired
with UCS. Similar to the UCR.
Diagram of UCS/UCR and
CS/CR
Examples of Classical
Conditioning
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Music with people, events, or emotions
Smells with people, places, or events;
can associate smells with emotions
Taste aversions—quick to form, hard to
extinguish
Phobias—treated by systematic
desensitization
Advertisements
Sequence of CS-UCS
presentations
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Trace conditioning—CS precedes UCS—
light goes on, goes off, and then shock
occurs
Delayed conditioning—CS precedes UCS
and stays on for part of UCS--light goes
on and stays on for first part of shock
Sequence of pairings, cont.
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Simultaneous conditioning—CS occurs at the
same time as the UCS and for the same
length of time--light and shock come on and
go off at the same time
Backward conditioning—CS is presented at
the end of the UCS—the shock occurs and
ends before the light comes on
Which sequence is best for
learning?
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Delayed is best, especially if the delay
between the CS and UCS is short.
Extinction
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The process of eliminating a
conditioned response
Easiest way is to stop pairing the CS
and UCS
Spontaneous recovery
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Reappearance of an extinguished CR
after the passage of time. Occurs in
the real world, not just in the lab.
The CR will be weaker than it was
initially, and extinction occurs more
easily.
Graph of Spontaneous
Recovery
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Notice that extinction occurs more
quickly after spontaneous recovery.
Generalization and
Discrimination
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Generalization: the occurrence of
responses to stimuli that are similar to a
CS
Discrimination: the occurrence of the
response that is specific to the CS
Little Albert Experiment
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt0
ucxOrPQE&feature=related
Watson & Rayner (1920)