Chapter 8 Flashcards
How we learn from experience
- learn to predict events by noticing other events that happen first
- when actions have consequences
- when we watch what other people do
How we learn from association
- 2 stimuli tend to occur together or in sequence
- actions become associated with pleasant/averse results
- when 2 pieces of info are linked
Classical conditioning
Learning to link 2 stimuli in a way that helps us anticipate an event to which we have a reaction
pavlovs dogs
lightning -> thunder reaction
Operant conditioning
changing behavior choices in response to consequences
1. polite 2. treat 3. repeat
Cognitive learning
acquiring new behaviors and info through observation rather than direct experience
1. observe events 2. acquire info
Behaviorism
Used by John B Watson and BF Skinner
How people and animals learn through interactions with their environment
foresaw application in human behavior
Ivan Pavlov
Salivation eventually triggered by neutral stimuli
bell -> salivation
Acquisition
initial stage of learning/conditioning
Timing of stimuli
Neutral stimuli needs to appear before unconditioned stimuli
bell must appear before food
Extinction
diminishing of a conditioned response
Spontaneous recovery (return of conditioned response)
following a rest period presenting conditioned stimuli might lead to return of conditioned response.
if presented repeatedly without unconditioned stimuli, conditioned response becomes extinct again
PTSD
post traumatic stress disorder
prolonged exposure most common form of treatment
conditioning to manage symptoms
Generalization
tendency to have conditioned responses triggered by related stimuli
more stuff makes you drool
drool when rubbed; also when scratched
Discrimination
learned ability to only respond to a specific stimuli; preventing generalization
less stuff makes you drool
drool at different pitch; another pitch has no affect
Ivan Pavlov’s legacy conditioning
occurs in all creatures, related to biological drives and responses
Ivan Pavlov’s legacy Science
learning can be studies objectively, quantify actions and isolate elements of behavior
Ivan Pavlov’s legacy Specific applications
substance abuse involves conditioned triggers; triggers can be avoided or associated with new responses
learned association in rats
John Garcia
rats shocked associated shock with light
rats radiated associated nausea with water
both light and water present
natural selection favors tendency to associate nausea with something consumed
Conditioned taste aversion
rats associated a new taste with nausea so readily one pairing was enough to cause them to avoid that taste.
significant because disproved repeated pairings were necessary, all stimuli worked the same, and that unconditioned stimuli must be present soon after conditioned stimuli
Reinforced operant conditioning
behavior more likely to be tried again
punished operant conditioning
behavior less likely to be tried again
difference between classical and operant conditioning
classical:
automatic respondent reactions
neutral stimulus repeatedly proceeds respondent behavior and eventually triggers behavior
Operant:
chosen behaviors operate on environment
consequence repeatedly follows operant behavior and eventually influences behavior
BF Skinner behavioral control
envisioned societies where desired behaviors were deliberately shaped by reinforcement
explored what different changes in reinforcement do
responding to delayed reinforcers
dogs respond to immediate reinforcement
humans have the ability to link consequences to behavior even if not sequentially linked
delayed gratification -> long term goal setting
Continuous reinforcement
giving reward after target every time
subject acquires desired behavior quickly
Partial/intermittent reinforcement
giving reward part of the time
target behavior takes longer to acquire but persists longer without reward
Fixed interval reinforcement
reward every hour
slow unsustained responding
only paid for saturday wont work hard other days
Variable interval enforcement
reward after changing/random time
slow, consistent responding
never know when boss is coming always work hard
Fixed ratio enforcement
reward every x behavior
high rate of responding
buy 2 get 1; buy a lot
Variable ratio enforcement
reward after randomly chosen instance of behavior
high consistent responding
slot machine, keep pulling lever because machine might pay next time
Operant positive punishment
add something unpleasant
Operant negative punishment
take away something pleasant
Problems with physical punishment
behaviors may restart when punishment is over, child may only alter behavior in situations they could be punished, child may learn attitude of fear/hatred, models aggression and control as method of dealing with problems
Applications of operant conditioning
school- token economies
sports- athletes improve most by shaping their approach to practice/skills
work- pay function of performance rather than seniority
mirroring
being able to picture ourselves doing the same action
cognition
noticing consequences and associations
modeling
behavior of others serves as a model; an example of how to respond to a situation; may try model regardless of reinforcement
vicarious conditioning
our choices are affected as we see others get consequences for their behavior
vicarious
experienced indirectly through others
Albert Banduras Bobo doll experiment
kids see adults punching inflated doll and narrating their behavior
kids acted out the same behavior they had seen
Media models of violence
viewing media violence increases aggression and reduces prosocial behavior (such as helping an injured person)
violence- viewing effect; imitation and desensitized toward pain in others
