Learning
A relatively enduring change in behaviour (or
behavioural potential) due to experience
Emphasizes observable behaviour &
environment as a determinant of behaviour
Habituation
The diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequently repeated stimulus.
Sensitization
Increasing responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated exposure.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
Stimulus elicits a reflexive (automatic) response
(e.g., food, pleasure, pain)
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
the reflexive (automatic) response
elicited by a stimulus (e.g., salivation)
Classical Conditioning
An initially neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a response through association with
a stimulus that elicited a similar or related response
Optimal Classical Conditioning Acquisition
Occurs when the neutral stimulus is presented immediately before the unconditioned stimulus, with both stimuli being salient and clearly noticeable. The most effective timing is a short but not instantaneous interval, leading to a stronger association and a faster acquisition of the conditioned response
Extinction
Conditioned stimuli no longer paired with unconditioned stimulus → weakening &
eventual disappearance of conditioned response
Stimulus Discrimination
Conditioned response only to the original conditioned stimulus
– very specific
– No CR to similar stimuli
Stimulus Generalization
Conditioned response to other (unpaired) stimuli
- other stimuli resemble original conditioning stimulus
Operant Conditioning
Learning is a process by which a response or behaviour
becomes more or less likely to occur depending on its
consequences
Edward Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated
B.F Skinner’s take on consequences
Neutral consequence neither increases or
decreases the probability of same response again
Reinforcement increases the probability of same
response again. Consequence (or outcome) is called a reinforcer
Punishment decreases the probability of same
response again. The consequence (or outcome) is called a punisher
Reinforcement
Increases the likelihood that you will act in the same way again
* say Hi → person smiles at you or stops frowning at you
Punishment
decreases the likelihood that you will act in the same way again
* Start complaining → your conversational partners
frown at you or leave soon
2 types of reinforcement
Positive Reinforcement
Response becomes more likely to occur. Followed by addition or increase in intensity of a
desirable stimulus
Negative Reinforcement
Response becomes more likely to occur. Followed by removal, delay, or decrease in intensity of
an unpleasant stimulus
2 types of punishment
Positive punishment
Behaviour becomes less likely to occur. Followed by addition of unpleasant or aversive stimulus
Negative punishment
Behaviour becomes less likely to occur. Followed by removal, delay, or decrease in pleasant
stimulus
Schedules of reinforcement
Continuous, Intermittent (partial), ratio and interval
Continuous Reinforcement
A particular response is always
reinforced
Work: every tree planted → you get paid
Intermittent (Partial) Reinforcement
Intermittent (Partial): a particular response is intermittently reinforced
Work: every 10th tree-planted → you get paid
Ratio Reinforcement
Number of times a behaviour must be performed before reinforcement occurs
Work: every 10th tree-planted → you get paid
Interval Reinforcement
Amount of time that must pass
between before reinforcement occurs again
Work: every hour → you get paid
(not paid for partial hours)
Observational Learning
Learn new responses by observing behaviour of others rather than through direct experience
