I. What is learning?

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I. What is learning?
chapter 9
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Definitions
chapter 9

• Learning
• A relatively permanent change in behavior due to
  experience p300
• Classical conditioning learning through
  reflexively responding to things that happen to
  us p300
• Operant conditioning learning through
  consequences of our behavior p308
• Observational learning learning through
  observing what others say and do p322

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II. Classical conditioning
chapter 9
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Classical conditioning pp300-301
chapter 9

• The process by which a previously neutral
  stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a
  response through association with a stimulus that
  already elicits a similar response
• Associative learning there is an association
  between environmental stimuli and the organisms
  responses
• AKA Respondent conditioning Pavlovian
  conditioning

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Reflex p300
chapter 9

• An automatic stimulus-response connection
• Inborn
• Example salivation

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New reflexes from old p300-301
chapter 9

• Unconditioned response (UR)
• The reflexive response to a stimulus in the
  absence of learning
• Unconditioned stimulus (US)
• Elicits a response in the absence of learning

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New reflexes from old (contd)
chapter 9

• Through classical conditioning a neutral stimulus
  is then regularly paired with an unconditioned
  stimulus p301

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New reflexes from old (contd) p301
chapter 9

• Conditioned stimulus (CS)
• An initially neutral stimulus that comes to
  elicit a conditioned response after being paired
  with an unconditioned stimulus
• Conditioned response (CR)
• A response that is elicited by the conditioned
  stimulus
• Occurs after the CS has been associated with the
  US
• Is usually similar to the US

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Extinction
chapter 9

• The weakening and eventual disappearance of a
  learned response p301
• In classical conditioning, it occurs when the
  conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the
  unconditioned stimulus.
• Spontaneous recovery the reappearance, after a
  rest period, of an extinguished conditioned
  response p301

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Stimulus generalizationp302
chapter 9

• In classical conditioning, occurs when a new
  stimulus that resembles the conditioned stimulus
  elicits the conditioned response

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Stimulus discriminationp302
chapter 9

• The tendency to respond differently to two or
  more similar stimuli
• Occurs when a stimulus similar to the conditioned
  stimulus fails to evoke a conditioned response

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III. Classical conditioning in humans
chapter 9
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Learning to fear p304
chapter 9

• Phobia an intense irrational fear
• Fear is classically conditioned

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Little Albert pp304-305
chapter 9

• Research conducted by Watson and Raynor in 1920
• Little Albert was conditioned to be afraid of
  white rats by pairing the neutral stimulus (rats)
  with an unconditioned stimulus (loud noise).
• Within days, Albert was afraid of rats, and his
  fear generalized to other furry objects.

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Unlearning fear
chapter 9

• Counter conditioning (AKA systematic
  desensitization) p305
• The process of pairing a conditioned stimulus
  with a stimulus that elicits an incompatible
  response.
• Another childs fear of rabbits was removed by
  pairing rabbits with a stimulus that elicited
  happiness.

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Health problems and classical conditioning
chapter 9

• Many classically conditioned health problems are
  successfully treated with biofeedback therapy
• Asthma
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Ulcers

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Learning to like p304
chapter 9

• Where do sentimental feelings come from?
• Objects have been associated in the past with
  positive feelings.

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IV. Operant conditioning
chapter 9
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Operant conditioning
chapter 9

• The process by which a response becomes more or
  less likely to occur depending on its
  consequences p308

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Consequences of behavior p309
chapter 9

• A neutral consequence neither increases nor
  decreases the probability that the response will
  recur.
• Reinforcement strengthens the response or makes
  it more likely to recur
• Punishment weakens a response or makes it less
  likely to recur

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Reinforcementpp309-310
chapter 9

• The process by which a stimulus strengthens or
  increases the probability of the response that it
  follows.
• Primary reinforcers are inherently reinforcing
  and typically satisfy a physiological need.
• Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that have
  acquired reinforcing properties through
  associations with other reinforcers.

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Edward Thorndikespuzzle box
chapter 9

• Thorndike said that behaviors followed by good
  outcomes are strengthened, and behaviors followed
  by bad outcomes are weakened

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B.F. Skinners operant conditioning p311
chapter 9
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Types of reinforcement
chapter 9

• Positive reinforcement
• When a pleasant consequence follows a response,
  making the response more likely to recur. p310
• Shaping Teaching complex behaviors by
  reinforcing successive approximations of a
  desired response p313
• Negative reinforcement
• When an unpleasant consequence is removed
  following a response, making the response more
  likely to recur. p310

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Punishmentp310
chapter 9

• The process by which a stimulus weakens or
  reduces the probability of the response that it
  follows
• Primary punishers are inherently punishing.
• Secondary punishers are stimuli that have
  acquired punishing properties through
  associations with other punishers.

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Types of punishment pp310-311
chapter 9

• Positive punishment
• When an unpleasant consequence follows a
  response, making the response less likely to
  recur.
• Negative punishment
• When a pleasant consequence is removed following
  a response, making the response less likely to
  recur.

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Behavior modification p316
chapter 9

• The application of operant conditioning
  techniques
• to teach new responses
• to reduce or eliminate
• maladaptive or problematic
• behavior
• Also called applied behavior analysis

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V. Observational learning
chapter 9
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Observational learning (modeling) p322
chapter 9

• Learning new responses by observing the behavior
  of another rather than through direct experience.