LEARNING

LECTURE 5.2
 LEARNING

Through learning we adapt to our environment. It is a

process of acquiring knowledge through experience,
the information available to us, and our social
behaviors.

Association: Our minds naturally connect events that

occur in sequence.
Creating Habits
 HABITS

Habits form when we repeat behaviors in a

given context.

People are creatures of habit. Why?

Habits are efficient
 ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING

Learning that certain events occur together.

1) Classical Conditioning: learn to associate two stimuli and
thus anticipate events. We associate stimuli we do not
control and respond automatically. (Respondent Behavior)
2) Operant Conditioning: learn to associate a response
(behavior) and its consequence. We learn to repeat or avoid
acts depending on either a positive or negative results.
(Operant Behavior)
 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Ivan Pavlov studied the conditioning response in dogs.

 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Acquisition – the initial learning of the stimulus-

response relationship.
How long does it take to acquire a response from a
stimulus?

What about sexual conditioning?

• Can we enhance reproduction?

Learning makes yearning!

 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Extinction – the diminished response that occurs when

the conditioned stimulus (CS) no longer signals an
impending unconditioned stimulus (US).
Spontaneous Recovery – the reappearance of a
weakened conditioned response (CR) after a pause.
 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Generalization – the tendency once a response has

been conditioned for similar stimuli to elicit similar
responses.
Discrimination – the learned ability to distinguish
between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant
stimuli.
 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

How about us today? What forms of

conditioning are we being subjected to on a
constant basis?
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

B.F. Skinner studied the conditioning response in pigeons

and rats.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

The Skinner Box creates a stage for reinforcement –

an event that strengthens a preceding response.
Shaping behavior – gradually guiding actions toward
a desired behavior through rewarding successive
approximations.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Types of Reinforcers:
• Positive Reinforcement – increasing behavior with
positive action and strengthens the response.
• Negative Reinforcement – increasing behavior
stopping or reducing negative actions – this is not
punishment – it removes a punishing event (aversive).
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Types of Reinforcers:
• Primary Reinforcer – an innately reinforcing
stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.
• Conditioned Reinforcer – a stimulus that gains its
reinforcing power through association with a primary
reinforcer.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Immediate and Delayed Reinforcers:

(As we discussed earlier in Chapter 5 under Moral Development and self-discipline)

• Balancing between the immediate short-term pleasure

with medium- to long-term reward.

How does this impact Climate Change?

- Consumption, travel, lifestyle behaviors?
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Reinforcement Schedules
• Continuous Reinforcement – reinforcing the desired
response every time it occurs. Learning occurs
quickly.
• Partial Reinforcement – reinforcing a response only
part of the time. Learning occurs more slowly.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Partial Reinforcement
Fixed Variable

Every so many: Reinforcement After an unpredictable number:

after every nth behavior. Reinforcement after a random
Example: Buy 10 get one free, pay number of behaviors.
Ratio workers per unit. Example: Gambling, fishing

Every so often: Reinforcement for Unpredictably often: Reinforcement

behavior after a fixed time. for behavior after a random amount
Example: Once a week price of time.
Interval discounts. Example: Checking emails, phone.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Changing Our Own Behavior

• State a realistic goal in measurable terms and announce it.
• Decide how, when, and where you will work toward your goal.
• Monitor how often you engage in your desired behavior.
• Reinforce the desired behavior.
• Reduce the rewards gradually.
 MOTIVATION

Intrinsic Motivation – a desire to perform a behavior

for its own sake.
Extrinsic Motivation – a desire to perform a behavior
to receive a reward or avoid punishment.
 MODELING

Albert Bandura
Observational Learning – following others,
contagions.
Imitation – mirror neurons, empathy, helps us gain
friends.
Can enhance prosocial behavior as well as antisocial
behavior.