Learning Processes Behaviorism Classical conditioning Operant conditioning

2 Adaptation to the Environment Learning - “any process through which experience at one time can alter an individual’s behavior at a future time” (Gray) Hilgard and Bower (1975) add: “provided that the behavior change cannot be explained on the basis of native response tendencies, maturation or temporary states of the subject (e.g. fatigue, drugs, etc)

3 Behaviorism The attempt to understand observable activity in terms of observable stimuli and observable responses John B. Watson (1913) B.F. Skinner (1938)

What’s this about LEARNING? Classical Conditioning

5 Pavlov’s Dogs Digestive reflexes and salivation Psychic secretion

Classical Conditioning UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS REFLEX ACTION will elicit a UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS NEUTRAL STIMULUS REFLEX ACTION will elicit a CONDITIONED STIMULUS will elicit a CONDITIONED RESPONSE NEUTRAL STIMULUS will elicit NO REACTION

Neutral Stimulus--Bell Does not normally elicit a response or reflex action by itself –A bell ringing –A color –A furry object

Unconditioned Stimulus--Food Always elicits a reflex action: an unconditioned response –Food –Blast of air –Noise

9 Unconditioned Response--Salivation A response to an unconditioned stimulus--naturally occurring –Salivation at smell of food –Eye blinks at blast of air –Startle reaction in babies

10 Conditioned Stimulus--Bell The stimulus that was originally neutral becomes conditioned after it has been paired with the unconditioned stimulus Will eventually elicit the unconditioned response by itself

11 Conditioned Response The original unconditioned response becomes conditioned after it has been elicited by the neutral stimulus

12 Classical Conditioning vs. Association by Contiguity Stimulus A (The word ball) Thought of B (Mental image of a ball) Thought of B (Mental image of a ball) Learning Experience After Learning Neutral stimulus (Bell) Unconditioned response (Salivation) Conditioned response (Salivation) Conditioning Procedure After Conditioning Unconditioned stimulus (Food) Conditioned stimulus (Bell) Stimulus A (The word ball) Stimulus B (Sight of a ball)

13 Classical Conditioning Phenomena Extinction Spontaneous recovery Generalization Discrimination training

14 John B. Watson and Little Albert Conditioned emotional responses Generalization Extinction

15 Conditioned Drug Reactions Opposite the drug effect How does this explain deaths by OD in unfamiliar places?

16 Early Operant Conditioning E.L. Thorndike (1898) Puzzle boxes and cats Scratch at bars Push at ceiling Dig at floor Situation: stimuli inside of puzzle box Howl Etc. Press lever First Trial in Box Scratch at bars Push at ceiling Dig at floor Situation: stimuli inside of puzzle box Howl Etc. Press lever After Many Trials in Box

17 B.F. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Did not like the term “satisfying” Invented a better appartus--the Skinner box

Operant Conditioning Terms Shaping Consequences –positive and negative reinforcement –positive and negative punishment

Reinforcement Schedules Continuous: 1 to 1 ratio, a prize every time Ratio –fixed: 1 to ?, a prize every ? time –variable: ? to ?, maybe a prize, maybe not! Interval –fixed: announced examination –variable: pop quiz

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning CLASSICAL Stimulus precedes the response and elicits it Elicited responses Learning as a result of association Pavlov OPERANT Stimulus follows the response and strengthens it Emitted responses Learning as a result of consequences Skinner

The Basic Concepts of Learning Theory Classical conditioning –elicits response as a result of associating unconditioned stimulus neutral stimulus Operant conditioning –emitted response –learning is a result of consequences reinforcers punishment

22 Observational Learning Specific skills and general behavioral styles Bandura’s cognitive theory

The Ecological Perspective Alternative to general-process perspective Learning what to eat

24 Alternative Perspective Role of environment Components of learning

25 Learning What to Eat Food-aversion learning Food-preference learning Food-selection experiment with human infants Social learning and food selection Summary of rules

26 Food-Aversion Learning Classical conditioning or not?

27 Food-Preference Learning Experiments with rats and thiamin

28 Food Selection Experiment Infants’ ability to choose a nutritionally balanced meal

29 Summary of Rules When possible, eat what your elders eat. When you eat a new food, remember its taste and smell