Introduction to Learning

Chapter 1

A Definition of Learning

Learning is:
An

experiential process
Resulting in a relatively permanent
change
Not explained by temporary states,
maturation, or innate response
tendencies.

Three Limits on the Definition

The change that occurs during

learning is a potential for behavior
that depends on other conditions.
Learning is not always a permanent
change.
What

can be learned can be unlearned.

Changes also occur for other

reasons maturation, motivation.

Roots of Behavior Theory

Functionalism behavior promotes

survival, study behavior to
understand its adaptive function.
Dewey

lower animals have reflexes,

humans have a flexible mind
James people have instincts
Brucke internal biochemical forces
motivate behavior in all species.

Criticisms of Functionalism

The variety of behavior across

cultures is inconsistent with
universal human instincts.
Infants seem to have few innate
instincts (only fear, rage, love?).
Labeling everything an instinct
doesnt aid understanding much.
Bernard

cataloged 2000+ instincts

Behaviorism

A search for the laws governing

learning across species.
Emphasis on experience.
Avoidance of mentalistic concepts.
Based on Aristotles idea of the
association of ideas.
In

order for two ideas to become

associated, they must be paired
together in time (temporally).

British Associationists

Locke thinking consists of:

Simple

ideas passive impressions

received by the senses.
Complex ideas the combination
(association) of simple ideas (a rose).

Hume associations are based on:

Resemblance

(similarity)
Contiguity in time or place
Cause and effect

Thorndikes Puzzle Box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=EKvNqe8cKU4&feature=player_em
bedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
BDujDOLre-8

Thorndikes Puzzle Box

Learning Curve for Cats in Box

Thorndikes Laws

Also called S-R learning.

Law of effect A chance act becomes
a learned behavior when a connection
is formed between a stimulus (S) and
a response (R) that is rewarded.
Law of exercise the S-R connection
is strengthened by use and weakened
with disuse.

Thorndikes Laws (Cont.)

Law of readiness motivation is

needed to develop an association or
display changed behavior.
Associative shifting a learned
behavior (response) can be shifted
from one stimulus to another.
Once

a behavior is learned, the

stimulus is gradually changed.
Fish + stand up, then stand up
alone.

Pavlovs Studies

Pavlovs Conditioned Reflex

Conditioning -- a stimulus that

initially produces no response can
acquire the ability to produce one.
Learning occurs through pairing in
time and place of one stimulus with
another stimulus that produces a
response.
This is a kind of associative shifting,
but the response is involuntary.

Terminology of Conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus (US or UCS)

Produces

learning.

a reflexive response without

Unconditioned response (UR or

UCR)
The

response that occurs, typically a

reflex, involuntary and automatic.

More Terminology

Neutral stimulus
A

stimulus not capable of producing an

unconditioned response.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A

previously neutral stimulus that has

acquired the ability to evoke a
response.

Conditioned response (CR)

The

learned response, similar to the

UCR, an involuntary reflex.

Prior to conditioning
Neutral stimulus
(tone)

(Orientation to sound
but no response)

UCS
(food powder in mouth)

UCR
(salivation)

Conditioning
Neutral stimulus
CS (tone)
+

UCS
(food powder)

CR
(salivation)

After conditioning
CS
(tone)

CR
(salivation)

Conditioning Processes

Stimulus generalization stimuli

like the CS become able to evoke
the conditioned response.
Extinction if the UCS and CS are
not paired, the CS loses its ability to
produce a conditioned response.
Spontaneous recovery an
extinguished CS briefly returns but
quickly goes away again.

Acquisition, Extinction, and

Spontaneous Recovery

Little Albert

Watson & Raynor

Human fears can be acquired

through Pavlovian conditioning.
Rat

paired with loud noise

Stimulus generalized to other white
objects (white rabbit, white fur coat)

Mary Cover Jones developed

counterconditioning -- a technique
for eliminating conditioned fears.
Acquisition

of fear-inhibiting response

Ethics of Learning Research

Animals and humans are now

protected by oversight and ethical
guidelines.
Pain or injury to animals must be
weighed against and justified by the
knowledge to be gained.
Electric shock typically is
uncomfortable and upsetting but
not physically harmful.