Theories of Learning
Classical Conditioning
Systematic Desensitization
A stepwise process that treats fear and phobias
Method that reduces anxiety by getting the individual to associate deep relaxation with successive visualization of increasingly anxiety-producing situations
Fetishism
Sexual attraction to non-living things
Phobias
An intense fear of an object or situation that's greatly out of proportion to its actual threat
4 Stages of Classical Conditioning
Discrimination
Opposite of generalization
Happens when a subject learns to produce a conditioned response to one stimulus, but not to another similar stimulus
Generalization
Ex. If a child is bit by a dog, then the child will fear other dogs also
Subject can also respond to a similar stimulus without training
The disappearance of the conditioned response brought by repeatedly presenting the stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus
Extinction
The response is gone after the stimulus is gone
Acquistion
The initial phase of learning the conditioned response
Conditioning
Conditioned Response- a learned response to the conditioned stimulus that happens following the unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus pairing
Conditioned Stimulus- a stimulus that used to be neutral and now produces a conditioned response after being associated with the unconditioned stimulus
Stimulus- Response
Neutral Stimulus- a stimulus that would not cause a specific response
Unconditioned Response- an automatically produced response to a non neutral stimulus
Unconditioned Stimulus- a stimulus that can results a response without any prior conditioning
Created by Ivan Pavlov
Gave dogs meat powder, and they started to salivate because of they anticipated food. The dogs have become conditioned to salivate when they see food.
Researched on dogs
A form of learning in which an automatic response is connected to an external stimuli
Observational Learning
Requirements To Observational Learning
Reinforcement- if the model is reinforced than it enhances the effects of observational learning
Motor Reproduction- the learner must have the ability to mimic the model
Retention- the learner requires clarity and meaning from the model
Attention- the learner must pay attention to the model
Bandura thought that self-efficacy has powerful influence over behaviour
Performed the "Bobo Doll Experiment"
All the children beat the bob-doll after watching the same-sex adult do the same thing prior
Discovered by Albert Bandura
A type of learning that happens when a person observes and imitates someone else's behaviour.
Operant Conditioning
The Premack Principle
Ex. "Eat all your vegetables and you can have dessert"
Idea that an undesired task must be completed before you may engage in a reinforcing activity
Built on Reinforcement and Punishments
Reinforcement
Partial reinforcement- reinforcement that is occasional or intermittent (most of the time reinforcement is partial)
Schedules of Reinforcement
Variable-Interval Schedule
Ex. Watching and seeing shooting starts on a dark night
A response is reinforced after a variable amount of time has elapsed
Fixed- Interval Schedule
Ex. Checking the oven to see if Cookes are done when baking time is known
The first appropriate response after a fixed amount of time is reinforced
Variable-Ratio Schedule
Ex. A charity makes an average of 15 phone cals for every donation received
A behaviour is reinforced after an average number of times, but on an unpredictable bases
Fixed-Ratio Schedule
Ex. A man receives $5 for every box he makes
A behaviour is reinforced after a set number of responses
Continuous reinforcement- reinforcement for every occurrence of the targeted behaviour
Punishment is a type of consequence that decrease the likelihood of a behaviour happening again
Negative Punishment (-)
An example, a child is not allowed to go out (grounded) for talking back.
Removing a stimulus to prevent that behaviour from happening again
Positive Punishment (+)
An example of this is a mom giving their child a time out for lying
Adding a stimulus to prevent that behaviour from happening again
Reinforcement is a type of consequence that increase the likelihood of a behaviour
Negative Reinforcement (-)
An example of this a son does the dishes so his mom can stop yelling at him
Taking away something negative after a behaviour observed
Positive Reinforcement (+)
An example is when a father gives candy to their daughter for cleaning her room
Adding something positive after a behaviour is observed
First studied by Thorndike
B.F Skinner was the main researcher
Taught pigeons many complex tasks
Taught rats to press a lever and go through mazes
Worked with pigeons and rats
Performed the "Puzzle Box" experiment
The cats would come out
Put food outside of the box
Wanted to learn how cats would get out
Placed cats inside the box
Developed Law of Effect
Behaviours are followed by positive outcomes are strengthened. Behaviours followed by negative outcomes are weakened.
Known is "Instrumental Conditioning"
A form of learning in which consequences for behaviour, changes the likelihood that the behaviour will occur in the future
