Behavior

What is Learning?“Learning can be defined as a change in

an individual caused by experience.”

Experience

Intentional

Unintentional

Stimuli

Behaviorism

DefinitionBehaviorism is a theory of animal and

human learning that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors and discounts mental activities.

Behavior theorists define learning as nothing more than the acquisition of new behavior.

Behaviorism

ConditioningExperiments by behaviorists identify conditioning as a universal learning process. There are two different types of conditioning, each yielding a different behavioral pattern:

BehaviorismClassical Conditioningoccurs when a natural reflex responds to a

stimulus. The most popular example is Pavlov's observation that dogs salivate when they eat or even see food.

Essentially, animals and people are biologically "wired" so that a certain stimulus will produce a specific response.

Pavlov & Classical Conditioning

Pavlov: Classical Conditioning

Unconditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response

Neutral StimulusConditioned Response

Pavlov: Classical Conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus = unconditioned response

Unconditioned stimulus +

Neutral stimulus = unconditioned response

Neutral stimulus = No response

Conditioned stimulus= Conditioned response

Thorndike: The Law of Effect

If an act is followed by a satisfying change in the environment, the likelihood that the act will be repeated in similar situations increases.

However, if the behavior is followed by an unsatisfying change, the chances of a repeat of behavior decreases.

Thorndike: The Law of Effect While Pavlov was concentrating on the

physiological responses of dogs in harnesses, Thorndike (1911) was studying the behavioural responses of cats in puzzle boxes. Instead of delivering food independently of behaviour whenever a signal had been presented, Thorndike delivered it once his animals had responded.

He called this learning“Trial and Error”

2nd Type of BehaviorismOperant Conditioning

occurs when a response to a stimulus is reinforced. Basically, operant conditioning is a simple feedback system: If a reward or reinforcement follows the response to a stimulus, then the response becomes more probable in the future.For example, leading behaviorist B.F. Skinner used reinforcement techniques to teach pigeons to dance and bowl a ball in a mini-alley.

Skinner: Operant ConditioningThey “operate” on the environment

without unconditioned stimuli (i.e. food)

Consequences Behavior

Skinner: Operant ConditioningThe “Air Crib”

Question

Can you think of unintentional operant conditioning which you have experienced or observed.

Remember that operant conditioning results from linking a behavior to its consequences.

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Role of Consequences

Reinforcers (a consequence that strengthens a behavior)

Punishers (a consequence that weakens a behavior)

Principles of Operant Conditioning: Reinforcers

Primary (satisfy basic human needs) Food,water,security,warmth,sex)

Secondary(acquire value based upon association) Money, for example

Positive and Negative (escape an unpleasant consequence)

Premack Principle (eat your veggies)

Intrinsic and Extrinsic (external rewards)

Principles of Operant Conditioning: Punishers

A punisher weakens behaviorPresentationThe use of unpleasant consequences

(aversive stimuli)

RemovalTime Out

EffectsBased upon immediacy of consequences

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Immediacy of Consequences

Immediate versus Delayed Consequences

Connection between Behavior and Consequence

Informational Value of Feedback

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Shaping

Reinforcing Approaching Final Behavior

Breaking Task into Parts

Uses in the Classroom

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Extinction

Extinction Burst

Consequences for Classroom Management

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Schedules of Reinforcement

Fixed Ratio

Variable Ratio

Fixed Interval

Variable Interval

Principles of Operant Conditioning: Maintenance

Natural Reinforcers

Intrinsic Reinforcers

Resistance to Extinction

Principles of Operant Conditioning:

Role of Antecedents

Cueing

Discrimination

Generalization

Techniques for Increasing Generalization

Social Learning Theory: Bandura

Modeling

Phases of Observational Learning

Vicarious Learning

Self-Regulated Learning

Strengths and Limitations of Behavioral Learning TheoriesFirmly Established Basic Principles

Limited Scope

Social Learning Theory as Bridge between Behavioral and Cognitive Theories

Behaviorism

There have been many criticisms of behaviorism, including the following: Behaviorism does not account for all kinds of learning, since

it disregards the activities of the mind. Behaviorism does not explain some learning--such as the

recognition of new language patterns by young children--for which there is no reinforcement mechanism.

Research has shown that animals adapt their reinforced patterns to new information. For instance, a rat can shift its behavior to respond to changes in the layout of a maze it had previously mastered through reinforcements.

Behaviorism

How Behaviorism Impacts Learning This theory is relatively simple to understand because it relies only

on observable behavior and describes several universal laws of behavior.

Its positive and negative reinforcement techniques can be very effective--both in animals, and in treatments for human disorders such as autism and antisocial behavior.

Behaviorism often is used by teachers, who reward or punish student behaviors.