Learning A relatively permanent change in –behavior, –knowledge, –capability, or –attitude –that is acquired through experience –and cannot be attributed to illness, injury, or maturation Infants do not ‘learn’ how to walk as basic motor skills and maturation govern every species.

BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE LEARNING BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE Learning----Learning---- –Is a relatively permanent change in behavior

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS of Behaviorism  People’s behaviors are largely the result of their experiences with environmental stimuli  Person is born as a blank slate (Locke’s Tabula Rasa)  Environment writes on this slate – conditions individual  Learning can be described in terms of relationships among observable event – Stimuli and responses  Learning is a change in behavior  Learning is most likely to occur when stimuli and responses occur close together in time.  CONTIGUITY – events occur together  Many species of animals, including humans, learn in similar ways  Rats, pigeons,

Classical Conditioning A type of learning through which, by association, an organism learns to associate one stimulus with another. INVOLUNTARYworking with emotional component, INVOLUNTARY operates on the –involuntary nervous system –endocrine system –smooth muscles –When you are conditioned, you can’t help yourself! You just respond.

Stimulus –Any event or object in the environment to which an organism responds Response –Any reaction evoked by a stimulus

Classical Conditioning The Process of Classical Conditioning Discovered by accident during saliva experiment Observed salivary response occurring before presentation of food when dogs heard footsteps of lab assistants heard food dishes rattle saw the attendant who fed them Or spotted their food.

Classical Conditioning Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) –A stimulus that elicits a specific unconditioned response without learning Food Loud noise Light in eye Puff of air in eye Unconditioned Response (UCR) –A response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior learning. Salivation Startle Contraction of pupil to light eye blink response

Classical Conditioning Conditioned Stimulus (CS) –A neutral stimulus that, after repeated pairing with an UCS, becomes associated with it and elicits a CR Conditioned Response (CR) –The learned response that comes to be elicited by a CS as a result of its repeated pairing with an UCS. Higher-Order Conditioning –Occurs when the CS are linked together to form a series of signals The steps leading to a blood draw at a clinic

Steps to a Conditioned Response Neutral Stimulus (NS) alone  No Response –Tone (NS)  NR Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)  UCR –Food  Salivation Tone + Food  SalivationTone + Food  Salivation NS + UCS  UCR Paired often enough  Tone MEANS FOOD

Steps to a Conditioned Response CONDITIONED STIMULUSThe Tone becomes a CONDITIONED STIMULUS ( CS ) We can get a response without the food ( UCS ) We now have CS  CR

Changing Conditioned Responses Extinction –The weakening and eventual disappearance of the CR as a result of repeated presentation of the CS WITHOUT the UCS. Spontaneous Recovery –Reappearance of an extinguished response after exposure to the original CS following a rest period.

Changing Conditioned Responses Generalization –The tendency to make a CR to a stimulus that is similar to the original CS. Discrimination –The learned ability to distinguish between similar stimuli so that the CR occurs only to the original CS but not to similar stimuli

John Watson John Watson and Emotional Conditioning In 1919 initiated experiment to prove fear could be classically conditioned. –‘Little Albert’ –Conditioned to be afraid of White rats Other white objects

Classical Conditioning in Daily Life Smell and taste are closely associated because the smell of a particular food is a signal for its taste and the physical sensation associated with eating it. You can imagine how the fresh bread smells, tastes, and its texture by viewing the picture.

Classical Conditioning in Daily Life What happens when you smell food? –Stomach rumbles due to digestive processes that typically follow the smell and taste of food –Pancreas responds to counteract conditioned rise in blood sugar after a sweet taste on the tongue

Classical Conditioning in Daily Life Taste Aversion –The intense dislike and/or avoidance of a particular food that has been associated with nausea or discomfort. Chemotherapy –Chemotherapy treatments can result in a conditioned taste aversion, –Providing a “scapegoat” target can help patients maintain a proper diet

Classical Conditioning in Daily Life Dental visits –Sound of the drills and suction –Smell of the office –Sight of the chair and light Drug use –The CS associated with drug use lead individuals to seek out those substances –Counselors urge recovering addicts to avoid any cues (people, places, and things)