Unit 3 – Neurobiology and Communication Effect of experience and group behaviour

Learning Intention: To learn about the effect of experience Success Criteria: By the end of the lesson I should be able to Define learning as a change in behaviour as a result of experience State that repetition of a motor skill results in a motor pathway being established State that human behaviour can be learned by observation and imitation Define reinforcement as the process that makes an organism tend to repeat a certain piece of behaviour Define shaping as the reinforcement of approximations of a desired response in order to achieve a particular behaviour Describe extinction as the loss of a behaviour as a consequence of no reinforcement

3.The Effect Of Experience Learning is a change in behaviour as a result of experience

Investigating learning using a finger maze. The apparatus in the opposite image is used by a learner, who is blindfolded. The learners task is to proceed through the maze from entrance to exit using the tip of the forefinger. The observers job is to measure the time taken for each trial by the learner. The experiment is repeated to give a total of ten trials. 4 Mrs Smith: Ch33 Effect of Experience 12/24/2015

Activity To investigate learning using a finger maze Design a finger maze using the equipment given Swap your maze with a different group and trial it.

Effect Of Practice On Motor Skills A motor skill is a function, which involves the precise movement of muscles in order to perform a specific act. The repeated use of a motor skill results in a motor pathway in the nervous system being established Repetition of the skill is thought to increase synaptic connections between neurons. This leads to formation of a ‘motor memory’ Practice improves performance as neural pathways are established

Imitation Human behaviour maybe learned by observation and imitation. When faced with a new task e.g. learning how to use a smart phone it is much easier and takes less time to learn by watching and imitating an expert than reading a manual. Imitation is effective method of learning if the expert allows the learner to repeat task. Copying a demonstration is the preferred method of learning a new skill. Most people learn a new task more quickly by imitating an expert than following instructions

Trial and Error Learning Trial and Error Learning is the process of finding a solution to a problem by trying many possible solutions and learning from mistakes until a way is found.

Reinforcement Animals are motivated to learn by factors such as hunger and thirst. The hungry rat’s behaviour was rewarded by food – positive consequence. The behaviour is repeated and as result becomes reinforced. Reinforcement is the process that makes an organism tend to repeat a certain piece of behaviour. The reinforcer increases the probability of response being repeated.

Shaping Shaping is the process by which a desired pattern of behaviour is eventually obtained from the learner by the trainer reinforcing successive approximations of the desired response. Example - The proper use of a fork and knife by a child has almost no probability of occurring of its own accord. By using shaping, the parents direct the child’s behaviour along a desired route by praising (reinforcing) those responses that are approximations of the required response. Reinforcement of responses that are successively more and more similar to final desired response results in the child learning the new skill e.g. toilet training, learning to dress, tying shoe laces.

Extinction of Behaviour Extinction is the name given to the eventual disappearance of a behaviour pattern when it is no longer reinforced. Consider the rat that learned that pressing the lever gives it food every time. How would it’s behaviour change if pressing the lever failed to give it food? Eventually the rat does not press the lever at all and the learned behaviour pattern becomes extinct.

Learning Reinforcement, shaping and extinction of behaviour are part of trial and error learning. Reinforcement is when behaviour patterns that have a positive consequence for the individual are likely to repeated. Shaping is rewarding of behaviour that approximates to the desired behaviour. Extinction happens when behaviour patterns are not rewarded and so are likely to disappear.

Case Study Case study: Find out about studies of rewarded and unrewarded behaviour and shaping in learning.

Generalisation and Discrimination Generalisation is the ability to respond in the same way to many different but related stimuli.

Generalisation Experiment (John Watson’s Baby Albert Experiment StimulusResponse by child White ratReaches out to rat showing no fear White rat and loud noise every time child reaches out to touch rat Refuses to reach out and shows fear of white rats. White furry objects e.g. teddy bear, Refuses to reach out to touch any furry object The baby developed an aversion to white rats and a fear of many furry objects. The spread of response to different but related stimuli is an example of generalisation. What conclusions can be drawn from the above results?

Discrimination Discrimination is the ability to distinguish between related stimuli and give different responses. Discrimination is taught by reinforcing the desired response. Example; Mother responding to a baby with hugs and kisses when addressed as mama but the father not responding in the same way when addressed as mama. The baby is soon able to tell the difference between similar stimuli but give a different response. The baby has learned to discriminate.

Discrimination Learning to discriminate is an essential part of a child’s preparation for coping with everyday life. Generalisation and Discrimination Generalisation and Discrimination may result in for example a child who has been bitten by dog to fear all dogs ( generalisation ) or only to fear large dogs (discrimination).

Questions 1 1. What is learning? 2. Give the definition of a motor skill. 3. Describe how to improve the repeated use of a motor skill. 4. Describe what is established with the repeated use of a motor skill. 5. Give the meaning of imitation. 6. Give the meaning of trial and error learning. 7. How can human behaviour be learned. 8 What is the meaning of reinforcement

Answers 1 1.What is learning? Learning is a change in behaviour as a result of experience 2. Give the definition of a motor skill. It is a function, which involves the precise movement of muscles in order to perform a specific act. 3. Describe how to improve the use of a motor skill. Practice 4. Describe what is established with the repeated use of a motor skill. A motor pathway in the nervous system

Answers 1 (continued) 5. Give the meaning of imitation. Observation and copying 6. Give the meaning of trial and error learning. It is the process of finding a solution to a problem by trying many possible solutions and learning from mistakes until a way is found. 7. What is the meaning of reinforcement Reinforcement is the process that makes an organism tend to repeat a certain piece of behaviour.

Questions 2 8. Give the meaning of shaping. 9. What is the meaning of extinction of behaviour. 10. What type of learning is reinforcement, shaping and extinction of behaviour part of? 11. Give the meaning of generalisation. 12. Describe the effects of generalisation on behaviour. 13. Give the meaning of discrimination. 14. Give an example of the effects of discrimination on behaviour.

Answers 2 8. Give the meaning of shaping. Shaping is the process by which a desired pattern of behaviour is eventually obtained from the learner by the trainer reinforcing successive approximations of the desired response. 9. What is the meaning of extinction of behaviour. Extinction is the name given to the eventual disappearance of a behaviour pattern when it is no longer reinforced. 10. What type of learning is reinforcement, shaping and extinction of behaviour part of? trial and error learning

Answers 2 (continued) 11. Give the meaning of generalisation. Generalisation is the ability to respond in the same way to many different but related stimuli. 12.Describe the effects of generalisation on behaviour. The spread of response to different but related stimuli e.g. fear of white furry rats will spread to white fluffy toys 13. Give the meaning of discrimination. Discrimination is the ability to distinguish between related stimuli and give different responses.

Answers 2 (continued) 14. Give an example of the effects of discrimination on behaviour. Mother responding to a baby with hugs and kisses when addressed as mama but the father not responding in the same way when addressed as mama The baby is soon able to tell the difference between similar stimuli but give a different response.

Learning Intention: To learn about the effect group behaviour and social influence Success Criteria: By the end of the lesson I should be able to Define social facilitation as an increase in performance in competitive/audience situations Define de-individuation as the loss of personal identity in a group leading to diminished restraints on behaviour Define internalisation as a change of beliefs as a result of persuasion Define identification as a change of beliefs to be like an admired influencing source e.g. hero

Social Facilitation The presence of others improves performance ( especially in a competitive situation) is called social facilitation.

De-individuation Once under group pressure, individuals think and act differently from the way that they would if they were on their own. Decisions and behaviour now depend less on the members ’individual personalities and more on the collective influence of the group. The loss by an individual of personal identity when in a group is called de-individuation

De-individuation De-individuated people feel indistinguishable from others in the group and are more likely to act mindlessly and do things that they would never consider doing on their own. De-individuation is often used to explain the anti-social behaviour of some groups which would not be shown by individuals from these groups on their own.

De-individuation Loss of personal identity in a group leading to diminished restraints of behaviour.

Internalisation Internalisation is the changing of beliefs as a result of persuasion. Media, advertising, governments attempt to persuade people to change their current beliefs and adopt a different set of beliefs. They attempt to persuade us to internalise their beliefs.

Identification Identification is the changing of beliefs to be like an admired influencing source. Identification can result in a person changing their beliefs to be deliberately like another admired person.

Discussion Discuss how advertising uses internalisation and identification to influence us.

Questions 1. What is the meaning of social facilitation? 2. What can social facilitation lead to? 3. Give the meaning of de-individuation. 4. Describe 2 different effects of de-individuation. 5. Give the meaning of Internalisation 6. Describe the effects of internalisation. 8. Give the meaning of Identification. 9. Describe the effect of Identification.

Answers 1.What is the meaning of social facilitation? The presence of others will improve performance 2. What can social facilitation lead to? increased performance in competitive situations. 3. Give the meaning of de-individuation. The loss by an individual of personal identity when in a group 4.Describe 2 different effects of de-individuation. leads to loss of personal identity. leads to diminished restraints on behaviour.

Answers(continued) 5.Give the meaning of Internalisation The changing of beliefs as a result of persuasion. 6. Describe the effects of internalisation. Media, advertising, governments attempt to persuade people to change their current beliefs and adopt a different set of beliefs. 8. Give the meaning of Identification. Identification is the changing of beliefs to be like an admired influencing source. 9. Describe the effect of Identification. This is used by advertisers to persuade someone to be like their hero