The Limitations of Learning

1
Chapter 12

• The Limitations of Learning

2
Physical Characteristics

• Physiological structure of the species
• Limitations on behaviours

3
Nonheritability of Learned Behaviour

• Learned behaviours are not inherited
• Lamarckian evolution passing acquired
  characteristics to offspring
• William McDougall trained on tasks for many
  generations
• Replication contradicted McDougalls findings
• Inheritance of learning could limit adaptability

4
Heredity and Learning Ability

• Genetic influences on ability to learn
• Not the same as inheriting learned behaviours
• Tryon (1940) rats learn maze, breed smartest
  together and dumbest together for 18
  generations
• Identical twins reared apart
• Nature and nurture

5
Neurological Damage

• Neurotoxins
• Prenatal damage to CNS (e.g., fetal alcohol
  syndrome, crack cocaine)
• Environmental toxins (e.g., lead)
• Physical damage (e.g., concussions)

6
Critical Periods

• Stage for optimum learning
• Imprinting
• Konrad Lorenz
• Puppy dogs
• Harlow (1958, 1962) studies terry cloth monkey
  moms

7
Biological Preparedness

• Species specific influences on behaviour
• Genetic predispositions
• Assist or hinder acquisition of behaviour
• Retention of behaviour

8
Instinctive Drift

• Breland Breland (1961)
• Pig, raccoon
• Operant task
• Reinforcer
• Early in training
• Later in training

9
Autoshaping

• Brown Jenkins (1968)
• Key pecking with pigeons
• VT-60 grain delivery
• Light on 8 seconds before food delivery
• No response necessary
• But pigeons started pecking light