Learning

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Learning
Long lasting change in behavior due to experience.
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Learning Behaviorism
Most behaviorists (Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner,
John Watson, Albert Garcia, etc.) believe,
whether right or wrong, that behavior is due to
outside, observable influences and associations
rather than cognitive processes
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Classical Conditioning

• Ivan Pavlov
• Studied Digestion of Dogs.
• Dogs would salivate before they were given food
  (triggered by sounds, lights etc)
• Dogs must have LEARNED to salivate.

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Classical Conditioning

• Passive learning (automaticlearner does NOT have
  to think).
• First thing you need is a unconditional
  (unlearned) relationship.
• Unconditional Stimulus (UCS)- something that
  elicits a natural, reflexive response.
• Unconditional Response (UCR)- response to the
  UCS.

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Classical Conditioning

• Next you find a neutral stimulus (something that
  by itself elicits no response).
• You present the stimulus with (before) the UCS a
  whole bunch of times.

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Classical Conditioning

• After a while, the body begins to link together
  the neutral stimulus with the UCS.
• Acquisition

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Classical Conditioning

• We know learning takes place when the previously
  neutral stimulus elicits a response.
• At this point the neutral stimulus is called the
  conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditional
  response becomes the conditioned response (CR).

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Classical Conditioning

• TRICKY FACT We know learning exists because the
  CS is linked to the UCS.
• This is called ACQUISITION.
• Acquisition does not last forever.
• The moment the CS is no longer associated with
  the UCS, we have EXTINCTION.

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Pavlovs Dog Experiment

• NS (neutral stimulus)

UCS (unconditioned stimulus)
UCR (unconditioned response)
CS (conditioned stimulus)
CR (conditioned response)
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Every time I go near the cabinet where Rovers
treats are kept, Rover comes and sits, waiting
for a treat.

• NS (neutral stimulus)

UCS (unconditioned stimulus)
UCR (unconditioned response)
CS (conditioned stimulus)
CR (conditioned response)
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Bobby watched the movie JAWS when he was
4-years-old. Now, every time he hears the song,
da-duh, dah-duh, da-duh) he gets anxious.

• NS (neutral stimulus)

UCS (unconditioned stimulus)
UCR (unconditioned response)
CS (conditioned stimulus)
CR (conditioned response)
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Spontaneous Recovery

• Sometimes, after extinction, the CR still
  randomly appears after the CS is presented.

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Generalization and Discrimination

• Generalization

• Discrimination

• Something is so similar to the CS that you get a
  CR.

• Something so different to the CS so you do not
  get a CR.

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Classical Conditioning and Humans

• John Watson brought Classical Conditioning to
  psychology with his Baby Albert experiment.

Believed that, in the right environment, anyone
could be trained to do (or fear, or like) anything
This type of Classical Conditioning is also known
as Aversive Conditioning.
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First-Order and Second-Order Conditioning

• First Order Conditioning.
• Bell meat salivation.
• Bell Salivation.

• Second Order Conditioning
• (After first order conditioning has occurred)
• Light Bell Salivation.
• Light Salivation.

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Criticisms of Classical Conditioning
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Learned Taste Aversions

• When it comes to food being paired with sickness,
  the conditioning is incredible strong.
• Even when food and sickness are hours apart.
• Food must be salient (noticeable.)

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Garcia and Koelling Study

• Studied rats and how they make associations.
• Some associations seem to be adaptive.

CS UCS Learned Response
Loud Noise Shock Fear
Loud Noise Radiation (nausea) Nothing
Sweet Water Shock Nothing
Sweet Water Radiation (nausea) Avoid Water