Chapter 6: Learning

Music: “Superstitious”

Steve Wonder

“Live and Learn”Cardigans

Learning: Agenda 1. Classical Conditioning

a) Pavlov’s experiments b) Terminology c) Acquisition/ Generalization/ Extinction d) Application: Little Albert

2. Operant Conditioning a) Distinction with CC b) Skinner -Shaping c) Reinforcement d) Punishment e) Application: Gaining Self-Control**

3. Observational Learning a) Bandura’s Bobo-Doll Experiments b) Application: Media Violence

4. Movie: Snake Phobia (12 min.)

1. Classical Conditioning Introduction with beer commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irIkOdIZVvo Definition of Learning:

Relatively permanent change in behaviour that results from experience

a) Pavlov’s Experiments: Found that dogs could salivate to non-food stimuli!

b) Terminology: Unconditioned Stimulus: UCS

Always causes reflexive response Unconditioned Responses: UCR

Innate, unlearned response to UCS Conditioned Stimulus: CS

Previously neutral stimulus that now elicits a response Conditioned Response: CR

Learned response to neutral stimulus

1. Classical Conditioning (cont’d)

Tip: Conditioned=Learned Unconditioned=Unlearned

c) Acquisition: When should the CS (e.g. tone) be paired with the UCS

(e.g. food) for conditioning to occur? Generalization:

Tendency to respond with CR to stimuli similar to the original CS (e.g. different tones)

Extinction: Occurs with the presentation of the CS alone (e.g. tone) Note on the treatment of phobias, and spontaneous

recoveries of conditioned responses

1. d) Application: Little Albert:

Watson’s famous case (1920) with 11-month healthy boy

Experimental procedure

Conditioned fear of white furry objectsBrief footage

Two-process theory of phobic reactions: 1) Classical conditioning of fear 2) Operant conditioning of avoidance:

Avoidance is reinforced and phobia is maintained See p. 257

p. 257

Maintenance of

Fear response

2. Operant Conditioning a) Distinction with CC:

Controlling stimuli comes after the response b) Skinner:

“Law of effect”: Rewarded behavior is more likely to re-occur Shaping: for more complex behaviors

Brief clips with pigeons

c) Reinforcement: Always strengthens behavior Positive: primary vs. secondary (e.g. food vs praise)

2. Operant Conditioning Negative Reinforcement:

responses that terminate a negative, or aversive situation are reinforced

e.g. giving a candy (response) to a crying child (negative stimulus)

Schedules of reinforcement: (p. 255) Partial reinforcement produces greater persistence in

behavior than continuous reinforcement Explains gambling behaviour

2. c) Pos. vs. Neg. Reinforcement

(p. 257)

2. Operant Conditioning

d) Punishment: Negative consequences following undesired behaviour

***Decreases the frequency of a behavior E.g. Removing a privilege /“Time out” Prescribing undesired activity Physical aggression

Drawbacks: Punished behavior is not forgotten, it is suppressed Physical punishment increases aggression through modeling

Can also create fear that will generalize Does not tell you “what to do”! Punishment if used swiftly, works best when accompanied with explanation

and positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviors

d) Neg. Reinforcement vs. Punishment

p. 258

2. Operant Conditioning

e) Application: Gaining Self-Control! 1) Identify target behavior

In behavioural terms, what you wish to decrease or increase 2) Monitor your current habits

Keep a daily log which will serve as baseline 3) Look at antecedents and consequences (functional

analysis) 4) Begin your program!

Set appropriate goals a) To increase behavior:

Find good reinforcers (p. 275) Seek situations that promote desired behavior

Self-Control… Reinforcers p. 275

2. e) Self-Control Program (cont’d)

4) Begin your program (cont’d) b) To decrease behavior:

Avoid situations that elicit unwanted behavior Find substitute for the consequences of unwanted behavior Reward yourself for not engaging in unwanted behavior

5) Monitor your behavior on a daily basis (chart your progress)

6) Enlist social support 7) Go from continuous to partial

reinforcement

2) e. Summary: Self-Control Program

p. 273 Personal Application Section

3. Observational Learning

Both CC and OC can take place vicariously, through observational learning.

a) Bandura’s Bobo-Doll Experiments (1961-1963) Study: 3-5 yr. old children in 4 experimental conditions:

1) Live, aggressive model 2) Filmed, aggressive model 3) Cartoons with aggressive acts 4) No exposure to aggression (control condition)

Results: Groups 1, 2 & 3 showed significantly greater no. of aggressive acts (i.e. hits against bobo doll) than the control condition Clip with Bandura

3. Observational Learning: Conclusions:

Learning can occur through observation and imitation (i.e. without conditioning or direct reinforcement)

b) Applications: Media violence:

fMRI studies: Exposure to violent movies linked to brain area involved in the inhibition of

aggressive impulses (lowered activation) Violent video games:

Reduces sensitivity to violence and suffering of victims Players more hostile, less forgiving and believe violence is “normal” Can increase likelihood of aggression

Conversely, prosocial models can have positive effects Prosocial video games:

Players get into fewer fights at school and found to be more helpful

4. Movie: Snake Phobia

Can people with a specific phobia learn to quickly overcome their fears? You will see an actual demonstration of exposure therapy that helps a snake phobic overcome her severe phobic reaction in just three hours. (12 min.)