Learning A relatively permanent change in behavior that comes as a result of experience. Not automatic Not due to maturation

Three types of learning Classical conditioning Operant conditioning Observational learning

Classical conditioning A form of learning that occurs when two stimuli that are presented together become associated with each other Pavlov and his dogs—dogs learned to associate the ringing of the bell with getting food. Soon they salivated at the sound of the bell.

Pavlov’s dogs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhqumfpxuzI&feature=related

Unconditioned stimulus & response UCS—unconditioned stimulus; an event that automatically produces an unconditioned response without any training UCR—unconditioned response; the reaction that is automatically produced when a UCS is present

Conditioned Stimulus and Response CS—conditioned stimulus; neutral stimulus that acquires the ability to elicit a CR after being paired with UCS CR—conditioned response; response elicited by a CS that has been paired with UCS. Similar to the UCR.

Diagram of UCS/UCR and CS/CR

Examples of Classical Conditioning Music with people, events, or emotions Smells with people, places, or events; can associate smells with emotions Taste aversions—quick to form, hard to extinguish Phobias—treated by systematic desensitization Advertisements

Sequence of CS-UCS presentations Trace conditioning—CS precedes UCS—light goes on, goes off, and then shock occurs Delayed conditioning—CS precedes UCS and stays on for part of UCS--light goes on and stays on for first part of shock

Sequence of pairings, cont. Simultaneous conditioning—CS occurs at the same time as the UCS and for the same length of time--light and shock come on and go off at the same time Backward conditioning—CS is presented at the end of the UCS—the shock occurs and ends before the light comes on

Which sequence is best for learning? Delayed is best, especially if the delay between the CS and UCS is short.

Extinction The process of eliminating a conditioned response Easiest way is to stop pairing the CS and UCS

Spontaneous recovery Reappearance of an extinguished CR after the passage of time. Occurs in the real world, not just in the lab. The CR will be weaker than it was initially, and extinction occurs more easily.

Graph of Spontaneous Recovery Notice that extinction occurs more quickly after spontaneous recovery.

Generalization and Discrimination Generalization: the occurrence of responses to stimuli that are similar to a CS Discrimination: the occurrence of the response that is specific to the CS

Little Albert Experiment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt0ucxOrPQE&feature=related Watson & Rayner (1920)