MODULE 2: LEARNING THEORIES

ü CONDITIONED STIMULUS (CS) -

through repeated association with the
ü BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE
unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit
ü External observable changes in the
a learned o conditioned response.
learner’s behavior.
ü CONDITIONED RESPONSE (CR) - the
learned response that occurs in
• Classic Conditioning
ü reaction to the conditioned stimulus
• Operant Conditioning
after conditioning has taken place.

CLASSIC CONDITIONING

ü Ivan Pavlov
ü Russian Psychologist
ü Most renowned experiment involved
meat, dog, and a bell.
ü before, during, after conditioning
ü neutral, unconditioned, conditioned
stimulus
ü no response, unconditioned response,
conditioned response
STIMULUS
ü Is any external event or situation that
can be detected by an organism’s
senses.
RESPONSE
ü The behavior that is a result of an
external or internal stimulus.
ü UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (US) - a
stimulus that naturally and
automatically triggers a specific
response without any prior conditioning
or learning.
ü UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE (UR) -
innate or reflexive reaction that
ü occurs in response to the unconditioned
stimulus
A Harsh And Strict Teacher Demotivates
Students
A harsh and strict teacher (US) makes students
feel bad (UR). Students associate going to
school (CS) with the harsh teacher and
learn to feel bad about going to school (CR).
Anxiety Over Needle
Getting a flu shot (US) hurts and makes a child
cry (UR). The child associates the needle (CS)
with getting hurt and cries at the sight
of the needle (CR).
Stage Fright
A child was laughed at (US) when he gave a
presentation in class, and he felt ashamed
(UR). Now, whenever he has to speak up in
front of people (CS), he feels nervous and
fearful (CR).
Anxious About Exams - negative reinforcer – “removing” the
Whenever a child fails an exam, they get final examination.
punished (US) by their parents. The child then
associates exams with bad consequences that ü PUNISHMENT
create anxiety (UR). When the child takes an – designed to weaken or eliminate a
exam again (CS), they will automatically response rather than increase it
become nervous (CR).
ü POSITIVE PUNISHMENT
– adding a factor to decrease a
OPERANT CONDITIONING behavior

• Burrhus Frederick (B.F.) Skinner ü NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

• rat box experiment – removing a factor to decrease a
• Stimulus-Response pattern behavior.
• Learning is a result of change in overt
behavior
• Changes in behavior are result of an
individual’s response to events (stimuli)
that occurs in the environment.

ü REINFORCEMENT
– key element in Skinner’s S-R theory
ü anything that strengthens the desired
response.

POSITIVE VS NEGATIVE
ü POSITIVE REINFORCER
REINFORCER / PUNISHMENT
– any stimulus that is given or added
increase the response.
John was assigned extra homework because
- verbal praises
he was late to school. PP
Example: A mother promises a new cellphone
A father praises his son for practicing soccer.
(stimulus) for her son who gets good grades
PR
(response)

A teacher gives +5 to students who participate

ü NEGATIVE REINFORCER
in the discussion. PR
– any stimulus that results in increased
frequency of a response when it is
To stop his mother’s nagging, Alex does his
withdrawn or removed. NOT A
chores. NR
PUNISHMENT, IT IS A REWARD

Jack was grounded for talking back. NP

Example: A teacher announces that
students who can
get an average grade of 95 in MIDTERMS
(response) will no longer take the final
examinations (stimulus).
CLASSIC VS. OPERANT