Introduction to Learning Chapter 1
Dec 22, 2015
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 doesn’t 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 Aristotle’s 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
Thorndike’s Puzzle Box
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKvNqe8cKU4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDujDOLre-8
Thorndike’s 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.
Thorndike’s 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.
Pavlov’s 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 a reflexive response without
learning. 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 soundbut no response)
UCS(food powder in mouth)
UCR(salivation)
ConditioningNeutral stimulus
CS (tone)
UCS(food powder)
+CR
(salivation)
After conditioningCS
(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.
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