A.P. Psychology Modules 20-22

A.P. Psychology Unit 6Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning & Observational LearningLearning & Association Learningrelatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experienceWe learn by associationOur minds naturally connect events that occur in sequenceAssociative Learninglearning that two events occur together

Classical or Pavlovian ConditioningWe learn to associate two stimuli

Classical ConditioningIvan Pavlov 1849-1936Classical Conditioningorganism comes to associate two stimuli

Pavlovs Classic Experiment

Before ConditioningDuring ConditioningAfter ConditioningUCS (foodin mouth)Neutralstimulus(tone)NosalivationUCR (salivation)Neutralstimulus(tone)UCS (foodin mouth)UCR(salivation)CS(tone)CR (salivation)Classical ConditioningUnconditioned Stimulus (UCS)stimulus that unconditionally--automatically and naturally--triggers a responseUnconditioned Response (UCR)unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulusClassical ConditioningConditioned Stimulus (CS)originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned responseConditioned Response (CR)learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulusClassical ConditioningAcquisitionthe initial stage in classical conditioningExtinctiondiminishing of a CRSpontaneous Recoveryreappearance of an extinguished CRGeneralizationtendency for stimuli similar to CS to elicit similar responsesDiscriminationthe learned ability to distinguish between a CS and other stimuli that do not signal a UCS

Behaviorism & Classical Conditioning John B. Watson viewed psychology as objective sciencerecommended study of behavior without reference to unobservable mental processesBaby Albert experiment

Classical Conditioning

Operant ConditioningLaw of EffectE.L. Thorndike behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likelyOperant Conditioningbehavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment

Operant ConditioningOperant Behavioroperates (acts) on environmentproduces consequencesRespondent Behavioroccurs as an automatic response to stimulusbehavior learned through classical conditioningOperant ConditioningB.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

Skinner's ExperimentsOperant ChamberSkinner Boxchamber with a bar or key that an animal manipulates to obtain a food or water reinforcercontains devices to record responses

Operant ConditioningReinforcerany event that strengthens the behavior it followsShapingprocedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer approximations of a desired goalOperant Conditioning

Principles/Schedules of ReinforcementPrimary Reinforcerinnately reinforcing stimulusConditioned Reinforcerstimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with primary reinforcersecondary reinforcerContinuous Reinforcementreinforcing the desired response each time it occursPartial (Intermittent) Reinforcement reinforcing a response only part of the time

Schedules of ReinforcementFixed Ratio (FR)reinforces a response only after a specified number of responsesfaster you respond the more rewards you getVariable Ratio (VR)reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responsesFixed Interval (FI)reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsedVariable Interval (VI)reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervalsproduces slow steady responding

PunishmentPunishmentaversive event that decreases the behavior that it followspowerful controller of unwanted behavior

Punishment

Cognition & Operant ConditioningCognitive Mapmental representation of the layout of ones environmentLatent Learninglearning that occurs, but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate itOverjustification Effectthe effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do

Cognition & Operant ConditioningIntrinsic Motivationdesire to perform a behavior for its own sake and to be effectiveExtrinsic Motivationdesire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishmentsClassical vs. Operant Conditioning

Observational LearningObservational Learninglearning by observing othersModelingprocess of observing and imitating a specific behaviorMirror Neuronsfrontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so

Observational LearningAlbert BanduraBobo doll

Bandura's ExperimentObservational LearningProsocial Behaviorpositive, constructive, helpful behavioropposite of antisocial behavior TV & Observational Learning