Chapter 6: Behaviorism & Learning Theory

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Naturally elicits a response

Stimulus Discrimination

Occurs when the organism learns to not respond to stimuli similar to the CS - The person has learned to discriminate ("tell the difference") btw stimuli - Ex: the same boy is fearful only of flying insects, not all insects. He fears mosquitoes but not ants

Negative Punishment

Remove pleasant stimulus Ex: Child misbehaves; hence, toy taken away "Response cost"

Disadvantages of Behaviorism

Sometimes ignores insights from other areas: cognitive, social, & physiological psychology Minimizes any notion of enduring dispositions Tends to deemphasize human potential by comparison to laboratory animals

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

The formerly NS, which now (after conditioning) elicits the response

B. F. Skinner

Active 1940s-1960s Influenced by the pioneering experimental psychologist, Edward Thorndike "Law of effect": the consequences of a behavior will either strengthen or weaken that behavior Skinner developed operant conditioning, as a model to explain how consequences influence behavior -aka, instrumental conditioning - Based on work with animal training

Positive Reinforcement

Add Pleasant stimulus ex: child whines, then receives what she wants "reward"

Positive Punishment

Add unpleasant stimulus Ex: child is spanked for misbehavior includes corporal punishment

Labeling Parts of Pavlov's Experiment

Before Conditioning- Bell: Neutral Stimulus Food: Unconditioned Stimulus Salivation: Unconditioned Response During Conditioning- Bell(NS) + Food(CS) -> Salivation (UCR) After Conditioning- Bell (Alone) (Conditioned Stimulus) -> Salivation (Now a Conditioned Response)

Labeling Parts of "Little Albert" Experiment

Before conditioning: White rat- neutral stimulus Loud noise- unconditioned stimulus Fear- Unconditioned response During Conditioning: (same as above) White rat + loud noise -> fear After Conditioning White rat( alone) - conditioned stimulus Fear (of white rat by itself)- conditioning response

Ivan Pavlov

Classical Conditioning 1890's Russian physiologist Studied digestive responses of dogs Developed the classical conditioning model of learning theory -aka respondent conditioning

Punisher

Consequence that decreases probability of behavior recurring in future

Reinforcer

Consequence that increases probability of behavior recurring in future

Behaviorism & Learning Theory

De-emphasizes (or rejects) the importance of unobservable hypothetical constructs: - traits, defense mechanisms, unconscious conflicts, etc. Grew out of the empirical tradition -Emphasizes scientific approaches to the study of observable behavior Behaviors develops primarily through experience and interaction with the environment (i,e, "learning") Associationism: - S-S associations (stimulus-stimulus) - S-R associations (stimulus- response)

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Does not naturally elicit a response

Advantages of Behaviorism

Highly scientific and open to empirical study Recognizes environmental influences Delineates well-established principles of learning & conditioning

Extinction

If the CS is later presented repeatedly, without the UCS, the CS will eventually lose the power to elicit the CR. - Ex: if the bell is presented repeatedly without presenting food, the bell loses the power to elicit salivation The association has been "extinguished"

Escape & Avoidance Learning

Learning to perform a certain behavior in order to remove an aversive stimulus -ex: shielding one's eyes from the sun -ex: avoiding (or escaping) crowds, to reduce fear of crowds Fundamental to most anxiety-based conditions Based on the process of negative RFT

Classical Conditioning Explains

Likes & dislikes Emotional reactions Anxiety & fear responses Many responses with a physiological basis

Parts of Classical Conditioning

Neutral Stimulus (NS) Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) Unconditioned Response ( UCR) Conditioned Stimulus (CS) Conditioned Response (CR)

Stimulus Generalization

Occurs when the CR is elicited by other stimuli, similar to the CS - The power to elicit the CR has "generalized" from the CS to other, similar stimuli - Ex: a boy is repeatedly stung by bees develops a fear reaction to all flying insects

Pavlov's Initial Experiment

Presented food to dog, which natural elected salivation The sound of a bell does not naturally elicit salivation Repeatedly paired the presentation of food with sound of a bell-elicited salivation Eventually, presented the sound of a bell alone, which then elicited salivation

Negative Reinforcement

Remove unpleasant stimulus ex: person anxious in stores; hence, escapes/avoids stores "Escape & avoidance learning"

Conditioned Response (CR)

The formerly unconditioned response, which is now elicited by the conditioned stimulus

Unconditioned Response ( UCR)

The response that is naturally elicited by the UCS

John Watson

US, 1920s Rejected introspection Founder of behaviorism: approach that focused on scientific study of observable behavior "Little Albert" experiment: 11 month old boy, not naturally afraid of white rat, dog, rabbit, or monkey When loud noise (hammer on steel rod) paired with white rat, Albert developed fear of white rat alone Conditioned fear reaction Generalized to similar objects (e.g, white rabbit, dog, fur coat)

Extinction

When a previously reinforced behavior no longer reliably results in a consequence, the behavior gradually decreases in frequency -Ex: Child's whining no longer results in getting his/her way. Whining gradually decreases