3. How We Learn:
Learning- a relatively permanent change in an
organism’s behavior due to experience
2 types of Associative learning:
1. Classical Conditioning- type of learning in which
one learns to link two or more stimuli and
anticipate events
2. Operant Conditioning- A type of learning in which
behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer
or diminished if followed by a punisher
5. Classical Conditioning Acronyms
UR or unconditioned response is a not learned:
salivating when food** is presented
US or unconditioned stimulus** is the food.
CR or conditioned response is how the bell signaled
food for the dog
CS or conditioned stimulus is the bell that had been
neutral but now means food
Remember: Conditioned = Learned
Unconditioned = Unlearned
6. Processes of Classical Conditioning:
Higher-order conditioning- a procedure in which the
conditioned stimulus in one experience is paired with a new
and neutral stimulus creating a second often weaker
conditioned stimulus
Example: By using a dog and a bell in the Pavlov trials, the
dog salivates to the bell, then the bell can be paired
repeatedly with a flash of light and the dog will eventually
salivate to the light alone as well as the bell.
7. Processes Continued
Extinction -the diminishing of a conditioned
response
Occurs when a conditioned stimulus no longer
signals an impending unconditioned stimulus
Example: In previous example, if you ring a bell over
and over again and never feed the dog, the dog will
ultimately learn not to salivate when the bell rings
8. Processes Continued
Spontaneous Recovery
Appears after extinction and without training
The response briefly appears upon presentation of
the conditioned stimulus after a brief period of not
having it.
9. Processes Continued
Generalization - Occurs once a response has been
conditioned
Similar stimuli to the conditioned stimulus elicits similar
responses
Example: Little Albert was conditioned to fear white
rats, he also feared other things that resemble white such as
white rabbits and Santa Clause’ white beard
10. Processes Continued
Discrimination - The learned ability to distinguish
between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant
stimulus
Example: The dog knows the sound of the bell for the
food so he will not respond to a bell being played on
the radio.
11. Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened
if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed
by a punisher
12. Operant Conditioning
Law of Effect
Developed by E.L Thorndike, conducted experiments in a puzzle box
States that behaviors followed by satisfying or positive consequences are
strengthened and more likely to occur
Behaviors followed by annoying or negative consequences are weakened and
less likely to occur
13. Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner
Interested in the ABCs of Behavior
Designed an operant chamber (Skinner Box)
Contained a bar or key that an animal can
manipulate to obtain a food or
water: reinforcer
14. Operant Conditioning
B. F. Skinner
Developed four different training procedures
-Positive Reinforcement
-Negative Reinforcement
-Positive Punishment
-Negative Punishment
16. Operant Learning
Reinforcement Schedules
Continuous Reinforcement- reinforce the desired response every
time it occurs
Partial Reinforcement- Reinforcing a response only part of the time
Fixed-Ratio Schedule- Reinforces a response only after a specified
number of responses (Every so many)
Fixed-Interval Schedule- Reinforces a response only after a
specified time has elapsed (Every so often)
Variable-Ratio Schedule- Reinforces a response only after a
specified time has elapsed (Unpredictable #)
Variable-Interval Schedule- Reinforces a response at
unpredictable time intervals (Unpredictably often)
17. Operant Learning
Fixed-ratio- “definite, definite number, fixed amount”
(buy 2 shirts get one free)
Fixed-interval- “definite period of time”
(Checking cookies after the 10 min baking period)
18. Operant Learning
Variable-Ratio Schedule- “unpredictable #”, gamblers schedule”
(Playing a slot machine)
Variable-Interval Schedule- “unpredictable amount of time “
(Mr. R’s pop quizzes)
19. Cognitive Processes in Learning
Latent Learning- learning that occurs but is not
apparent until there is an incentive to
demonstrate it
Insight learning- a sudden and often novel
realization of the solution to a problem , occurs
after little or no interaction with our
environment
Observational learning- learning by observing
others
20. Cognitive Processes in Learning
Observational learning (continued)
Mirror Neurons- frontal lobe neurons that fire when
performing certain actions or when observing
another doing something!
21. Cognitive Processes in Learning
Albert Bandura: Bobo Doll Experiment
-Kids imitated adults’ actions to a doll
We are especially likely to imitate people we perceive
as similar to ourselves, as successful, or as admirable
