Learning and Human Behavior

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 2

What is learning?

The process by which an experience or practice results in a relatively permanent change in behavior or potential behavior

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 3

Forms of Learning Change in behavior

Classical Conditioning Instrumental(Operant) Conditioning

Change in potential behavior Cognitive Learning Social learning theory

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 4

Classical Conditioning

The type of learning in which a response naturally elicited/obtained by one stimulus comes to be elicited/obtained by a different, formerly neutral stimulus

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 5

Classical Conditioning continued……………………

(associated)

Basic findings by Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

Before conditioning (Bell) No responseUnconditioned stimulus(Food) Unconditional response(Saliva)

During conditioningConditioned stimulus(Bell) Unconditioned stimulus (Food) Unconditional response (Saliva)After conditioningConditioned stimulus (Bell) Conditional response (Saliva)

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 6

Classical Conditioning continued……………………

Association and prediction Conditions for Classical

Conditioning Timings Repetition

Classical Conditioning in humans Learning and unlearning phobias

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 7

Instrumental(Operant) Conditioning The type of learning in which

behaviors are emitted/produced (in presence of a specific stimuli) to earn rewards or avoid punishments

Basic findings by Thorndike (1898) and B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 8

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 9

Comparison of Classical & Operant Conditioning

Similarities Talk about associations Same Features

Generalization Discrimination Experimental extinction Spontaneous recovery

Differences Elicit Behavior vs Emitted Behavior Reflex/automatically triggered Action vs

Voluntary Action Passive vs Active

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 10

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Conditions for Operant Conditioning Motivation Reduction of opportunities of irrelevant

action Shaping: reinforcement of successive

approximations towards desired behavior

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 11

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Law of effect/principle of reinforcement Behavior that brings a satisfying effect (reinforcement)

is apt to be performed again, whereas the behavior that brings a negative effect (punishment) is apt to be suppressed.

Reinforcer An event/consequence that increases the likelihood

that the behavior preceding it will occur again Punishment

An event/consequence that decreases the likelihood that the behavior preceding it will occur again

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 12

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Types of reinforcers Positive reinforcer

A pleasant event/consequence whose presence increases the likelihood that the ongoing behavior/response will recur

Negative reinforcer Any event/consequence whose reduction or

termination increases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 13

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Punishment Conditions for effective Punishment

Swift Sufficient Consistent

Drawbacks Only suppresses the undesired behavior Stirs up negative feelings Generates aggression

Must be used along with the positive reinforcers Avoidance training can be used as an alternative strategy

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 14

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Learned helplessness Failure to take steps to avoid or escape

from an unpleasant or aversive stimulus that occurs as a result of previous exposure to unavoidable painful stimuli

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 15

Instrumental Conditioning continued……………………

Positive reinforcement Continuous reinforcement – low resistance to extinction Partial reinforcement schedule – high resistance to

extinction

Fixed interval – regular pays

Variable interval– irregular incentives

Fixed ratio Rewards on achieving targets

Variable ratio gambling

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 16

Cognitive Learning Learning that depends on mental processes

that are not directly observable Experiments by Tolman & Honzik (1930)

Latent learning Learning that is not immediately reflected

in a behavior change Cognitive map

A stored learned mental image of a spatial environment that may be called on or put to use when required.

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 17

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 18

Cognitive learning continued……………………

Insight Learning that occurs rapidly as a

result of understanding all elements of a problem

Learning set The ability to become increasingly

more effective in solving problems as more problems are solved

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 19

Social Learning Theory The ability to learn by observing a model or

receiving instructions, without firsthand experience by the learner

Conditions of learning Attention

Memorable act Motivation to convert observation into action

Observed reinforcement Observed punishment

Learning vs Performance

6-10-2009“Learning”

Instructor: Saba Nasir 20