Learning

Chapter 7

Learning

A relatively permanent behavior change due to experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=BHYLcNSZM9o&vq=small

Learning

How do we learn?

Conditioning – the process of learning associations

Learning

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

Learning

Classical Conditioning

Pavlov’s Experiments

One of Pavlov's dogs, preserved at The Pavlov Museum Ryazan, Russia

Classical conditioning–a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=CpoLxEN54ho&vq=small#t=15

Learning

Classical Conditioning

Major Phenomena

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a neutral stimulus is linked to an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response.

Acquisition

Extinction

The diminished (weakened) responding that occurs when the conditioned stimulus no longer signals an upcoming unconditioned stimulus

Extinction

X

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a weakened conditioned response after a pause

Generalization

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

The learned ability to discriminate between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Learning

Classical Conditioning

Extending Pavlov’s Understanding

Biological Predispositions

John Garcia discovered that organisms are predisposed to learn associations that help them adapt and survive. Contrary to what many before Garcia believed, some associations are learned more readily than others.Courtesy of John Garcia

Biological Predispositions

Learning

Classical Conditioning

Pavlov’s Legacy

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Former drug users often feel a craving when they are again in the drug-using context—with people or in places they associate with previous highs. Thus, drug counselors advise addicts to change environment.Credit: Psychonaught

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Former drug users often feel a craving when they are again in the drug-using context—with people or in places they associate with previous highs. Thus, drug counselors advise addicts to change environment.

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Advertisers pair previously neutral stimuli (brands) with erotic images with the idea that the brand will itself elicit the same positive response as the image. Classical conditioning is the basis of the adage that “sex sells.”

Ad from April 1921 National Geographic

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Applications of Classical Conditioning

As demonstrated by John Watson, emotional responses can be understood as developing through classical conditioning. Watson conditioned an 11-month old infant named “Little Albert” to fear white rats.

Brown Brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMnhyGozLyE

Applications of Classical Conditioning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMnhyGozLyE

Acrophobia- Fear of heights.

Ophidiophobia- Fear of snakes.

Selachophobia- Fear of sharks.

Alektorophobia- Fear of chickens.

Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns.

Genuphobia- Fear of knees.

Pentheraphobia- Fear of mother-in-law.

Androphobia- Fear of men.

(Fear of Fabio- Fabiophobia.)

Peladophobia- Fear of bald people.

Applications of Classical Conditioning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To3jujFzwHg

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Neutral Stimulus

Prepotent Stimulus

UnlearnedResponse

Roller coaster (CS)

Falling (UCS) Fear (UCR)

Neutral Stimulus

Prepotent Stimulus

Learned Response

Acquisition

Roller coaster (CS)

Falling (UCS) Fear (CR)

Millennium Force (CS)

Fear (CR)

Stimulus generalization—when a stimulus is similar enough to the CS to elicit the CR

Fear (CR)

Desperado (CS)

Stimulus discrimination—when a stimulus is not similar enough to the CS to elicit the CR

Fear (CR)

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Learning

Next time…

Operant Conditioning