Download Classical Conditioning

Introduction to
Psychology
Unit 5: Learning
Instructor: Sara Barnett
Warm-Up Questions
 How do you learn best?
 Who was your best teacher and why?
Announcements
 Reminder: Unit 5 Project is due
on Tuesday, November 2.
Question
 What are the three major theories on
learning?
Answer
 Classical Conditioning
 Operant Conditioning
 Observational Learning
Classical Conditioning
 Classical Conditioning is an association
is developed by pairing a neutral stimulus
with an unconditioned stimulus, which
results in a conditioned response (e.g.,
Pavlov’s dogs, the story of Little Albert, et
c.).
Classical Conditioning
Terms
 unconditioned response (UR): A
reflexive reaction that is reliably elicited
by an unconditioned stimulus.
 unconditioned stimulus (US):
Something that reliably produces a
naturally occurring reaction in an
organism.
Classical Conditioning
Terms
 conditioned stimulus (CS): The previously
neutral stimulus that acquires the property of
eliciting a particular response through pairing
with an unconditional stimulus
 conditioned responses (CR): The learned
response to the previously neutral stimulus
Examples of Classical
Conditioning
 You eat a new food and then get sick because
of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for
the food and feel nauseated whenever you
smell it.
 This example is classical conditioning
because nausea is an automatic response.
 The flu sickness is the US.
 The nausea is the UR.
 The new food is the CS.
 The nausea to the new food is the CR.
Examples of Classical
Conditioning
 An individual receives frequent injections of drugs,
which are administered in a small examination room at
a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but
after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small
room causes an increased heart rate.
 This example is classical conditioning because the
increased heart rate is an automatic response.
 The drug is the US.
 The accelerated heart rate is the UR.
 The small room is the CS.
 The accelerated heart rate to the room is the CR.
Question
 What are some other examples of
classical conditioning?
Operant Conditioning
 Operant conditioning is the use of
rewards and consequences to modify the
occurrence and form of behavior
 Humans tend to seek pleasure and avoid
pain, which is why operant conditioning
plays such a central role in our lives
Operant Conditioning
Terms
 Reinforcement is a consequence that causes a
behavior to occur with greater frequency.
 Punishment is a consequence that causes a behavior
to occur with less frequency.
 Extinction is the lack of any consequence following a
behavior. When a behavior is inconsequential,
producing neither favorable nor unfavorable
consequences, it will occur with less frequency. When
a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced
with either positive or negative reinforcement, it leads
to a decline in the response.
Examples of Operant
Conditioning
 A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair
and jump through a hoop to receive a food
treat.
 This example is operant conditioning
because standing on a chair and jumping
through a hoop are voluntary behaviors.
 The food treat is a positive reinforcement
because it is given and it increases the
behavior.
Examples of Operant
Conditioning
 Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks
annoyingly if you start the car without buckling
the seat belt. You become less likely to start
the car without buckling the seat belt.
 This example is operant conditioning
because buckling a seat belt is voluntary.
 The flashing light is a positive punishment.
 The consequence is given .
 The behavior of not buckling the seat belt
decreases.
Question
 What are some other examples of
operant learning?
Observant Learning
 Observational learning (also known as
vicarious learning, social learning, or
modeling) is a type of learning that
occurs as a function of observing,
retaining and replicating novel behavior
executed by others
 Note: observational learning is NOT the
same as imitation
Observational Learning

Albert Bandura called the process of observational learning modeling and
gave four conditions required for a person to successfully model the
behavior of someone else:

Attention to the model –
 In order for the behavior to be learned, the observer must see the modeled behavior

Retention of details –
 The observer must be able to recall the modeled behavior

Motor reproduction –
 The observer must have the motor skills to reproduce the action, the observer must
also have the motivation to carry out the action

Motivation and opportunity –
 The observer must be motivated to carry out the action they have observed and
remembered, and must have the opportunity to do so. Motivations may include past
reinforcement, promised incentives, and vicarious reinforcement. Punishment may
discourage repetition of the behavior
Question
 What are some other examples of
observational learning?
Questions, Comments,
Reflections
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