Learning Objectives
The Students Will:
Understand classical conditioning and give examples of the process.Understand operant conditioning and describe applications.
Explain the distinctions between positive and negative reinforcement and punishment.
Describe the importance of reinforcement schedules and the characteristics of the schedules.
Communicate the significance of shaping to the process of operant conditioning.
Learning and Behaviorism
behaviorism
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies
behavior without reference to mental processes. most research psychologists today agree
with (1) but not (2)
learning
a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. the events may be two stimuli
(as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant
conditioning)
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of one's environment
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid
threatened punishment
observational learning
learning by observing others; also called social learning
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
habituation
an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
Classical Conditioning
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and
anticipate events
unconditioned response
in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to
the unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation when food is in the mouth
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers a response
neutral stimulus
a type of stimulus that produces neither a conditioned or unconditioned response
conditioned response
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral
stimulus
conditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after
association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
acquisition
in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an
unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned
response; in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
higher-order conditioning
a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning
experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker)
conditioned stimulus
extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an
unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant
conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for a stimuli similar to the
conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
discrimination
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned
stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
The Office Classical Conditioning from SF Online on Vimeo.
operant conditioning
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a
reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
law of effect
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become
more likely, and that behavior followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcer guide behavior toward closer
and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Reinforcements and Punishments
reinforcer
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food; any
stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as
shock; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (NOT punishment)
punishment
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows
positive punishment
decreasing behaviors by presenting negative stimuli, such as shock; any
stimulus that, when presented after a response, decreases the response
negative punishment
decreasing behaviors by stopping or reducing positive stimuli; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, decreases the response
primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
secondary (or conditioned) reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
Schedules
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs (1:1)
partial (intermittent) reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in
slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement (pretty much everything but 1:1)
fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response
only after a specified number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a
response after an unpredictable number of responses
fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a
response only after a specified time has elapsed
variable-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
