Chapter 6

Learning

Learning 1
Definition
A relatively permanent change in behavior
brought about by experience.

Changes in behavior because of

maturation, accidents, fatigue, or
lack of effort is not called
learning.

Learning 2
Three forms of learning:
1. Classical conditioning

2. Operant conditioning
3. Cognitive-social learning

Learning 3
 Classical Conditioning

Russian physiologist
Ivan Pavlov (1904)
developed the principles
of classical conditioning.

Learning 4
Learning 5
Neutral stimulus
A stimulus that, before conditioning, does not
naturally bring about the response of interest.
Learning 6
 Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally brings about a

particular response without having been
learned.

Unconditioned response (UCR)

A response that is natural and needs no

training (e.g., salivation at the smell of food).

Learning 7
Learning 8
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
A once-neutral stimulus that has been paired with
an unconditioned stimulus to bring about a
response formerly caused only by the
unconditioned stimulus.

Learning 9
Conditioned response
A response that, after conditioning, follows a
previously neutral stimulus (e.g., salivation at the
ringing of a bell).

Learning 10
Classical conditioning is a type of learning in
which a neutral stimulus comes to bring about
a response after it is paired with a stimulus
that naturally brings about the response of
interest.

Conditioned = learned

Unconditioned = not learned

Learning 11
Extinction
The CR is acquired gradually over many parings of
the CS and UCS. Once the CR is established, if the
CS is no longer followed by the UCS, the CR
ceases to occur. This is called extinction which
occurs gradually.

Learning 12
Spontaneous recovery

The reemergence of an extinguished conditioned

response after period of rest and with no further
conditioning.

Learning 13
Stimulus generalization

• In classical conditioning, organisms may give

conditioned response to stimuli which are similar
but not identical to the original CS. This is known
as generalization.
• The more similar the two stimuli are, the more
likely generalization is to occur.

Learning 14
Stimulus discrimination

The ability to differentiate between stimuli.

Learning 15
Learning 16
Learning 17
Learning 18
 Operant Conditioning

1. If an organism exhibits a behavior

and receives a positive reinforcer,
the rate of behavior will increase.

2. If a particular behavior causes a

negative reinforcer to be removed,
that behavior will also increase.

Learning 19
3. If the organism exhibits a behavior and receives a
punisher, the rate of behavior will decrease.

Learning 20
 Reinforcement

The process by which a stimulus increases the

probability that a preceding behavior will be
repeated.

Learning 21
 Reinforcer
Any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding
behavior will occur again.

Learning 22
 Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

A primary reinforcer satisfies some

biological need and works naturally
regardless of a personas prior experience.
For example, food.

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that

becomes reinforcing because of its
association with a primary reinforcer.
For example - money.
Learning 23
Positive reinforcer
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus whose presentation
increases the probability that a behavior will occur.
Example: food, water, money, praise etc.
Negative reinforcer
A negative reinforcer is a stimulus
whose removal increase the
probability that a behavior will
occur. Example: taking an aspirin to
relieve a headache.
Learning 24
 Punishment
A punishment is a stimulus whose presentation decreases
the probability a behavior will occur.

Positive Punishment
Positive punishment weakens a
response through the application
of an unpleasant stimulus. For
instance, spanking a child for
misbehaving or spending ten years
in jail for committing a crime is
positive punishment.
Learning 25
Negative punishment

Negative punishment consists of the

removal of something pleasant. For
instance, demotion in job with a cut in pay
because of poor job evaluations.

Learning 26
Use of Reinforcer
Learning 27
Use of Reinforcer

Learning 28
Use of Punishment

Learning 29
 Schedules of Reinforcement

Definition:
Different patterns of frequency and timing of
reinforcement following desired behavior.

Learning 34
 Types:
A. Continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF)

B. Partial (or intermittent) reinforcement

schedule (PRF)

Learning 35
In continuous reinforcement schedule a behavior
is reinforced every time it occurs.

Learning 36
In partial reinforcement schedule a behavior is
reinforced some but not all of the time.

Slot machines pay Who knows how many

out after a random trials it will take before
number of trials you win a lottery
Learning 37
 Continuous reinforcement schedule: Learning
occurs more rapidly
 Partial reinforcement Schedule: Behavior lasts
longer after reinforcement stops

Learning 38
 Cognitive-Social Approaches to Learning

An approach to the study of learning that focuses

on the thought processes that underlie learning.

Types:
1. Latent learning

2. Observational learning

Learning 47
In latent learning new behavior is acquired but is
not demonstrated until some incentive is provided
for displaying it.

Learning 48
People develop cognitive map of their
surroundings – a mental representation of spatial
locations and direction.

Learning 49
Observational learning is learning through
observing the behavior of another person called a
model.

If the model is rewarded for his or her behavior,

the witness will learn or carry out that behavior.
But if the model’s behavior is punished then the
behavior will not be mimicked.

Learning 50
Learning 51
Learning 52