Learning Geddes 2014

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. Click above to see about Pavlov

Classical Conditioning This is passive learning (automatic…learner does NOT have to think). First thing you need is an unconditional relationship. Unconditional Stimulus (UCS)- something that elicits a natural, reflexive response. Unconditional Response (UCR)- response to the UCS.

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

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

Classical Conditioning We know learning takes places 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).

Classical Conditioning 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. SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY: Sometimes, after extinction, the CR still randomly appears after the CS is presented.

Classical Conditioning Strength of CR Pause Acquisition (CS+UCS) Extinction (CS alone) Spontaneous recovery of CR

Generalization and 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.

Does Timing matter? The CS should come right before the US!

Little Albert Conditioned by Watson to fear rats Are all of our fears conditioned? No one knows what happened to Little Albert

Classical Conditioning--Examples Fred has a fluffy down pillow with some of the down sticking out of the fabric. When he first tries out the pillow, a piece of down tickles his nose and he sneezes. This happens every time he goes to bed. Soon he sneezes every time he lays down on any kind of pillow US___________________ UR_______________ NS/CS________________ CR_______________

Examples It is springtime and the pollen from the flowers causes you to sneeze.  Soon you are sneezing every time you see a flower. US___________________ UR_______________ NS/CS________________ CR_______________

Examples People receiving chemotherapy often vomit during or shortly after the procedure.  After several chemotherapy sessions, people begin feeling sick at the sight of the treatment room. US___________________ UR_______________ NS/CS________________ CR_______________

Examples Your significant other often yells at you and makes you feel bad. Pretty soon you can’t stand the look of that person and end the relationship.  You meet another person who looks like your ex. Although they seem nice, you find yourself feeling bad every time you are around them. US___________________ UR_______________ NS/CS________________ CR_______________

Examples You meet a new person who is an excellent cook. After a few superb meals you find yourself liking that person very much. US___________________ UR_______________ NS/CS________________ CR_______________

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.)

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 Radiation (nausea) Nothing Sweet Water Avoid Water

The Learner is NOT passive. Learning based on consequence!!! Operant Conditioning The Learner is NOT passive. Learning based on consequence!!!

Edward Thorndike—Law of Effect Behavior followed by a reward will increase

B.F. Skinner The King of Operant Conditioning. Nurture guy through and through. Used a Skinner Box (Operant Conditioning Chamber) to prove his concepts.

Life is a Skinner Box!

Reinforcement Anything that follows a behavior, making the behavior more likely to occur (strengthens the behavior) Two types: Positive The addition of something pleasant Negative The removal of something unpleasant

Reinforcement Shaping Behavior through Positive Reinforcement

Positive or Negative? Studying for a test. Putting your seatbelt on. Having a headache and taking an aspirin. Getting a kiss for doing the dishes. Faking sick to avoid AP Psych class. Breaking out of jail.

Punishment Anything that follows a behavior and makes it less likely to happen in the future. Positive Punishment Addition of something unpleasant. Negative Punishment Removal of something pleasant. Punishment works best when it is done immediately after the behavior Punishment can’t be used in isolation!

Punishment is NOT Negative Reinforcement! This is the most common mistake made when working with examples of operant conditioning. The 1st thing to decide is whether a behavior is increasing (reinforcement) or decreasing (punishment). Then decide whether you’ve added something (positive) or taken something away (negative)

Positive Punishment and Negative Reinforcement Big Bang Theory—Reinforcement and Punishment

Negative Reinforcement Taking aspirin to relieve a headache Hurrying home in the winter to get out of the cold Giving in to a dog’s begging Fanning oneself to escape the heat Leaving a movie theater if the movie is bad Smoking in order to relieve anxiety Following prison rules in order to be released from confinement Faking a stomachache in order to avoid school Putting on a car safety belt to stop an irritating buzz Turning down the volume of a very loud radio Putting up an umbrella to escape the rain Saying “uncle” to stop being beaten

Shaping Do we just wait for the desired behavior and then reinforce it? NO—we use a process called shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations of a behavior until you get the desired result.

Chaining Subjects are taught a number of responses in order to receive a reward Like learning a dance routine

Primary v. Secondary Reinforcers Primary Reinforcer Secondary Reinforcer Things that are naturally rewarding. Things we have learned to value. Money is a special secondary reinforcer called a generalized reinforcer (because it can be traded for just about anything)

Token Economy Every time a desired behavior is performed, a token is given. They can trade tokens in for a variety of prizes (reinforcers) Used in homes, prisons, mental institutions and schools.

Choosing Reinforcers Humans aren’t as easy to reinforce as animals! What is reinforcing for me (steak) probably wouldn’t be a good reinforcer for a vegetarian. Sometimes what we think is punishment can actually be a reinforcement, as in the case of a neglected kid

Reinforcement Schedules How often should you give the reinforcer? Every time? or just some of the times you see the behavior?

Continuous v. Partial Reinforcement Reinforce the behavior EVERYTIME the behavior is exhibited. Usually done when the subject is first learning to make the association. Acquisition comes really fast. But so does extinction. Reinforce the behavior only SOME of the times it is exhibited. Acquisition comes more slowly. But is more resistant to extinction. FOUR types of Partial Reinforcement schedules.

Ratio Schedules Fixed Ratio Variable Ratio Provides a reinforcement after a SET number of responses. Like collecting coins in Super Mario Bros. Provides a reinforcement after a RANDOM number of responses. Very resistant to extinction. Like playing a slot machine

Interval Schedules Fixed Interval Variable Interval Requires a SET amount of time to elapse before giving the reinforcement. Like waiting for the bus. Requires a RANDOM amount of time to elapse before giving the reinforcement. Very hard to get acquisition but also very resistant to extinction. Like checking your email Fixed Interval: She gets a manicure for every 7 days she stays on her diet.

Observational Learning Albert Bandura and his BoBo Doll We learn through modeling behavior from others. Observational learning + Operant Conditioning = Social Learning Theory

Observational Learning MIRROR NEURONS—they fire when I do something or if I see you do something. (biological basis for observational learning) Mirror Neurons

Observational Learning--Research Homicide rate doubled between 1957 and 1974 (when TV was introduced and spreading) TV introduced in 1975 to South Africa. Homicide rate then doubles School children with heavy exposure to violent TV get into more fights DOES VIOLENT TV CAUSE VIOLENCE?

Latent Learning Edward Toleman Rat maze experiment. Latent means hidden. Rats developed a cognitive map Sometimes learning is not immediately evident. Rats needed a reason to display what they had learned.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation Intrinsic Motivation—the desire to perform some behavior for its own sake. Extrinsic Motivation—performing behaviors to receive external rewards or to avoid punishment Think about the work you do in school? What is the main motivational factor?

Insight Learning Learning through the “ah-ha!” experience