Learning/Behaviorism

1. Learning/Behaviorism Operant and Observational learning

2. Operant conditioning • Association between a behavior and a consequence

3. E.L. Thorndike • Puzzle box paradigm • Learning curve for escape • Law of effect • Successful behaviors are likely to be repeated

4. B.F. Skinner • Major pioneer of behaviorism • All responses can be scientifically measured • Skinner box • Used to shape complex behaviors

5. Learning and association between a response and a consequence • Consequence must follow a behavior • Reinforcement - increases the likelihood of the response • Punishment - decreases the likelihood of the response

6. Reinforcement • Positive reinforcement + • Adds something desirable • Negative reinforcement - • Takes away something unpleasant • NOT punishment!!

7. Reinforcement • Primary reinforcers - innately satisfying • Secondary (conditioned) reinforcers - associated with satisfaction

8. Punishment • Positive punishment + • Adds something unpleasant • Negative punishment - • Takes away something desirable

9. Punishment • Not simply the opposite of reinforcement • Creates several unwanted side effects • Suppresses all behaviors • Creates fear • Teaches/increases aggression & cruelty

10. Extinction • In the absence of a consequence, behavior will diminish

11. Shaping • Complex behaviors are created by reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior • Each response that comes closer to the desired behavior is rewarded • Discreet segments of the behavior eventually comprise the whole behavior

12. Reinforcement schedules • Affect speed and retention of learning • Continuous reinforcement • Partial reinforcement • Fixed ratio • Variable ratio • Fixed interval • Variable interval

13. Generalization and discrimination • Generalization • Organism makes the response beyond the reward-related context • Discrimination • Organism learns the context in which the behavior will result in the consequence

14. Applications of operant conditioning • Behavior modification • Applied behavioral therapy • Animal training • Teaching children good behaviors and basic skills • Increasing employee productivity

15. Classical and Operant conditioning • Contrast • Classical conditioning creates an automatic response • Operant conditioning teaches an association between behavior and consequence • Compare • Associative learning, involving: • Acquisition • Extinction • Generalization • Discrimination • Both influenced by biological and cognitive predispositions

16. Biological predispositions • Learning is constrained by biology • Associations are learned when they are naturally adaptive • Training that override biological tendencies is short-lived • Example: Performing pig

17. Biological predispositions • Animals learn associations between biologically relevant stimuli very quickly • John Garcia - taste aversion & one-trial conditioning

18. Cognitive processes - Latent learning • Depends on and demonstrates cognitive processes in operant conditioning • Tolman’s hungry rats • Memory processes store the learning • Not all learning is an immediate behavioral response to a stimulus or potential consequence

19. Cognitive processes - Motivation • Affects behavioral performance • Intrinsic motivation • Intrinsic rewards • Extrinsic motivation • Extrinsic rewards

20. Motivation • Rewards may undermine intrinsic motivation • Humans have a tendency to view external rewards as the motivation to perform a task • Intrinsic interest is diminished • Rewards for good work do not diminish intrinsic motivation • Reward based on confidence and pride in hard work can support intrinsic motivation

21. Motivation • Rewards undermine intrinsic motivation by turning a naturally rewarding situation into a “job” • People focus on external rewards • Obscures the value of intrinsic rewards

22. Observational learning • Animals and humans learn through watching and imitating others • Part of typical development

23. Observational learning • Observational learning utilizes mirror neurons • Neurons in the frontal cortex • Respond to observation of activity and emotion

24. Albert Bandura • Observational learning relies on watching another’s behavior and observing the outcome • Bobo doll study

25. Positive observational learning • Modeling/observation of prosocial behaviors increases the occurrence of those behaviors • Children who observe regular prosocial behaviors engage in those behaviors and exhibit prosocial attitudes • Adult behavior can also be influenced by prosocial behaviors

26. Negative observational learning • Modeling/observation of negative behaviors can have antisocial effects • Children exposed to violence are more aggressive • Immediate and delayed effects of exposure to violence • Likelihood of abused children becoming abusers

27. Negative observational learning • Television is a model of many negative behaviors • Correlation • Causation • Effects of media violence on attitudes and behaviors • Imitation • Media provides a script • Desensitization • Overexposure diminishes the meaning of violence