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 ways of learning:
1. Classical conditioning

2. Operant conditioning
3. Cognitive approaches to
learning

Learning 3
 Classical Conditioning

Russian physiologist
Ivan Pavlov 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 13
Learning 18
Learning 19
 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 22
3. If the organism exhibits a behavior and receives a
punisher, the rate of behavior will decrease.

Learning 23
 Reinforcement
The process by which a stimulus increases the
probability that a preceding behavior will be
repeated.

Learning 25
 Reinforcer
Any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding
behavior will occur again.

Learning 26
 Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

A primary reinforcer satisfies some

biological need and works naturally
regardless of a person’s prior experience.
Example: food.

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that

becomes reinforcing because of its
association with a primary reinforcer.
Example: money.
Learning 27
Positive reinforcer
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus whose presentation
increases the probability that a behavior will occur.
Examples: 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 28
 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 29
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 30
 Positive Negative

Reinforcement
Get something Avoid something
(strengthens
(pleasant) (unpleasant)
behavior)

Punishment
Get something Lose something
(Weakens
(unpleasant) (pleasant)
behavior)

Learning 31
Observational learning is learning through
watching the behavior of another person, or
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
Learning 58
Learning 59