Simple Mechanisms of Learning

1
Chapter 3

• Simple Mechanisms of Learning

2
Order of coverage of material

• Classical Conditioning basic procedure and
  definitions
• Practical Applications of Classical Conditioning
• Temporal Arrangements of Stimuli (timing) and how
  it affects Classical Conditioning
• Opponent Process Theory of Emotion

3
Classical Conditioning

• Basic Processes
• Before, During, and After Conditioning
• See your class notes for this part of the
  material
• Four Elements of Classical Conditioning
• US
• UR
• CS
• CR

4
Practical Applications of Classical Conditioning

• Pedophilia
• Interpersonal attraction
• Changes in relationships from dating to marriage
• Phobias
• Can you think of others?

5
Temporal Arrangement of Stimuli

• In other words, what effect does the timing of
  presentation of the NS, CS, and US have on the
  effectiveness of conditioning?
• Delayed Conditioning NS before US AND they
  overlap
• Trace Conditioning NS before US AND with NO
  overlap
• Simultaneous Conditioning NS and US occur at
  the same time
• Backward Conditioning US is presented before
  the NS

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Why the difference in effectiveness for these 4
time relationships?

• See if you can figure it out
• The reason has to do with the fact that the NS
  must begin to serve as a signal that the US is
  coming
• The less clear it is to the organism that the NS
  is a signal that something important is coming,
  the less powerful the conditioning

7
Other terms and concepts

• Classical Conditioning

8
Opponent Process Theory of Emotion

• When a strong emotional reaction occurs (a
  process) to a stimulus, a second, opposite
  process (b process) gradually kicks in and begins
  to counter the original reaction
• May help us balance our emotions

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Factors Affecting Opponent Processes

• The a-process correlates closely with the
  b-process
• The b-process is slow to increase and slow to
  decrease
• Ex. Mild depression after an exciting event like
  graduation, a wedding, etc.
• With repeated presentation of the emotional
  event, the b-process increases in both strength
  and duration
• Ex. Thrill seeking behaviors as fear wears off
  and excitement increases