Introduction to Psychology Unit 5: Learning Instructor: Sara Barnett

Warm-Up Questions  How do you learn best?  Who was your best teacher and why?

Announcements  Reminder: Unit 5 Project is due on Tuesday, November 2.

Question  What are the three major theories on learning?

Answer  Classical Conditioning  Operant Conditioning  Observational Learning

Classical Conditioning  Classical Conditioning is an association is developed by pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, which results in a conditioned response (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs, the story of Little Albert, et c.).

Classical Conditioning Terms  unconditioned response (UR): A reflexive reaction that is reliably elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.  unconditioned stimulus (US): Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism.

Classical Conditioning Terms  conditioned stimulus (CS): The previously neutral stimulus that acquires the property of eliciting a particular response through pairing with an unconditional stimulus  conditioned responses (CR): The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus

Examples of Classical Conditioning  You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food and feel nauseated whenever you smell it.  This example is classical conditioning because nausea is an automatic response.  The flu sickness is the US.  The nausea is the UR.  The new food is the CS.  The nausea to the new food is the CR.

Examples of Classical Conditioning  An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination room at a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small room causes an increased heart rate.  This example is classical conditioning because the increased heart rate is an automatic response.  The drug is the US.  The accelerated heart rate is the UR.  The small room is the CS.  The accelerated heart rate to the room is the CR.

Question  What are some other examples of classical conditioning?

Operant Conditioning  Operant conditioning is the use of rewards and consequences to modify the occurrence and form of behavior  Humans tend to seek pleasure and avoid pain, which is why operant conditioning plays such a central role in our lives

Operant Conditioning Terms  Reinforcement is a consequence that causes a behavior to occur with greater frequency. Reinforcement  Punishment is a consequence that causes a behavior to occur with less frequency. Punishment  Extinction is the lack of any consequence following a behavior. When a behavior is inconsequential, producing neither favorable nor unfavorable consequences, it will occur with less frequency. When a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced with either positive or negative reinforcement, it leads to a decline in the response. Extinction

Examples of Operant Conditioning  A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a food treat.  This example is operant conditioning because standing on a chair and jumping through a hoop are voluntary behaviors.  The food treat is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.

Examples of Operant Conditioning  Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.  This example is operant conditioning because buckling a seat belt is voluntary.  The flashing light is a positive punishment.  The consequence is given.  The behavior of not buckling the seat belt decreases.

Question  What are some other examples of operant learning?

Observant Learning  Observational learning (also known as vicarious learning, social learning, or modeling) is a type of learning that occurs as a function of observing, retaining and replicating novel behavior executed by others  Note: observational learning is NOT the same as imitation

Observational Learning  Albert Bandura called the process of observational learning modeling and gave four conditions required for a person to successfully model the behavior of someone else: Albert Bandura Albert Bandura  Attention to the model –  In order for the behavior to be learned, the observer must see the modeled behavior  Retention of details –  The observer must be able to recall the modeled behavior  Motor reproduction –  The observer must have the motor skills to reproduce the action, the observer must also have the motivation to carry out the action  Motivation and opportunity –  The observer must be motivated to carry out the action they have observed and remembered, and must have the opportunity to do so. Motivations may include past reinforcement, promised incentives, and vicarious reinforcement. Punishment may discourage repetition of the behavior

Question  What are some other examples of observational learning?

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