An In Depth Look at Human Behaviour

Operant and Classical Conditioning

Learning Cognition: how we acquire, store, and

use knowledge

Learning: A change in knowledge or behaviour as a result of experience• We learn a lot within first few years of life• Humans rely on learning over instinct• We can change our thinking and behaviour

to meet new situations

Classical and Operant Conditioning

Both study the effects of positive reinforcement (rewards) and punishment on behaviour

Both explain a different type of behaviour• Classical Conditioning explains how we

learn attitudes, feelings, and basic responses

• Operant Conditioning explains more complex behaviour

Classical Conditioning Key Psychologist: Ivan Pavlov Belief – pleasant or unpleasant

reinforcement comes before the desired behaviour• Example: Pavlov’s Dog

Meat (reward) – salivates (behaviour) Candy (reward) – be appropriate (behaviour)

Classical Conditioning Learning in which a stimulus that does

not elicit a given response is repeatedly linked with one that does until the neutral stimulus elicits the response by itself• Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – agent that leads to a response without

training• Unconditioned Response (UR) – automatic response to a US• Neutral Stimulus (NS) – agent that initially has no effect• Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – a former NS that comes to elicit a given

response after pairing it with an US• Conditioned Response (CR) – a learned response to CS* The NS always becomes the CS*

Pavlov’s Dog Experiment

US – food UR – salivates

US + NS – bell UR – salivates

CS – bell CR - salivates

Operant Conditioning Key Psychologist – B.F. Skinner Belief – behaviour comes before

reinforcement• Example – Mouse and lever

Mouse pushes lever (behaviour) to get cheese (reward) You study hard on test (behaviour) you receive a 4+

(reward)

Observational Learning Learning by watching or imitating

models of behaviour that are successfulI.e. sports, speaking

Process: 1. Attention 2. Retention3. Reproduction – convert stored memory into

action4. Motivation- interest in skill to practice

Issue: What is the effect of TV / Video game violence on children?

Insight Learning Understanding or learning which is

often sudden like an “aha” experience or “eureka” moment• Latent learning occurs• Latent learning – the mind works on the

problem even though there are no outward signs until the insight reveals itself (AHA!!)

Behaviourists Behaviourist Psychologists (like

Pavlov and Skinner) believe we can explain most, if not all, human learning as a form of conditioning – especially operant.

For example, we continue to do things that bring us rewards and avoid things that bring us pain

What works best – Reward or Punishment?

Disadvantages of Punishment• May stop undesired behaviour but does not

show the desired behaviour• Punishment is attention therefore may be

considered a reward• Too much punishment causes psychological

effects