Learning

Learning
permanent
1. behavioral change
2.
practice and experience
3.
permanent
Behavioral learning theories
(Types of Learning)
(Learning Through
Association)
(Learning Through
Reinforcement)
In experiments conducted by Ivan , a
natural stimulus (food) was paired
with the sound of a bell.
The dogs would naturally salivate in
response to food, but after multiple
associations, the dogs would salivate
to the sound of the bell alone.
The food is the unconditional stimulus (US)
because it unconditionally elicits salivation
before the experiment begins. The bell is known
as the conditional stimulus (CS) because it only
elicits the salivary response conditional on the
bell–food pairings.
In experiments conducted by Ivan , a natural
stimulus (food) was paired with the sound of a
bell. The dogs would naturally salivate in response
to food, but after multiple associations, the dogs
would salivate to the sound of the bell alone.
The main result of pavlovian experiment is
that the stimuli come to evoke a set of
responses or emotions that may contribute
to many clinical disorders, including
anxiety disorders (panic disorder) and
drug dependence.
In panic disorder patients often
experience panic attacks in situation that
they have experienced before.
2. Operant conditioning
This theory developed by B.F. skinnr in which

learning occurs when a behavior
(instead of a stimulus) is associated with a
psychologically significant event.
The consequences of a response determine the
probability of it being repeated. Through operant
conditioning behavior which is reinforced
(rewarded) will likely be repeated, and behavior
which is punished will occur less frequently.
Skinner studied operant conditioning by
conducting experiments using animals which he
placed in a 'Skinner Box' is a device used to
objectively record an animal's behavior in a
compressed time frame. An animal can be
rewarded or punished for engaging in certain
behaviors, such as lever pressing (for rats) or key
pecking (for pigeons).
Skinner placed a hungry rat in the box. The box
contained a lever on the side, and as the rat
moved about the box, it would accidentally knock
the lever. Immediately it did so a food pellet
would drop into a container next to the lever.
The rats quickly learned to go straight to the
lever after a few times of being put in the box.
The consequence of receiving food if they
pressed the lever ensured that they would repeat
the action again and again
reinforcer
Positive Reinforcement
Skinner showed how negative reinforcement
worked by placing a rat in his Skinner box and
then subjecting it to an unpleasant electric
current which caused it some discomfort. As the
rat moved about the box it would accidentally
knock the lever. Immediately it did so the electric
current would be switched off. The rats quickly
learned to go straight to the lever after a few
times of being put in the box. The consequence of
escaping the electric current ensured that they
would repeat the action again and again.
• Neutral operants:
neither increase nor
decrease
• Reinforcers:
increase
A. Positive Reinforcement
A response or behavior is strengthened by
rewards, leading to the repetition of desired
behavior. The reward is a reinforcing
B. Negative Reinforcement
It is the removal of an adverse stimulus which
strengthens behavior. Negative reinforcement
strengthens behavior because removes an
unpleasant experience.
Removing strict parental controls on the
internet or TV when a child proves herself
responsible enough to handle more mature
content is an example of negative
reinforcement, where parental controls is
the adverse stimulus.
when a teacher compliments a child
in front of the class or in front of
other teachers, is another form of
positive reinforcement, where
complimention is the reward or
reinforcer.
• Punishers:
decrease
Punishment weakens behavior.
There are many problems with using

punishment, such as:
1.Punished behavior is not forgotten
2.Causes increased aggression

3.Creates fear
4.Does not necessarily guide toward desired behavior

Is there any difference between Pavlovian
and operant conditioning?
The responses observed in Pavlov’s experiment
are elicited and thus controlled by the
presentation of an antecedent stimulus.
In contrast, the “response” observed in Skinner’s

experiment is not elicited or compelled by an
antecedent stimulus in any obvious way—it is
instead controlled by its consequences.
Habituation
Is the reduction of a behavioral response

to a stimulus after repeated presentations
of the stimulus.
The response to the stimulus will recover
if the stimulus is absent for a period,
habituation can last for a long time.
What influences habituation?
1.Duration: the longer the duration of
exposure to a stimulus, the more likelihood of
habituation.
2.Frequency: as the frequency of
exposure to a stimulus increased, the
quicker habituation occurs.
3. Intensity:
it is harder to habituate to very intense
stimuli like a car alarm where habituatin
never occurs. It is easier for the brain to
habituate to milder stimuli.
4.Change: changes in the stimuli make it

harder to habituate for example if a sound
continually gets louder and then softer, the
original response is likely to keep
occurring.
Complex learning:
Complex learning is the integration of
knowledge, skills and attitudes;
coordinating qualitatively different
constituent skills; and often transferring
what was learned in school or training to
daily life and work.
Complex learning involves forms like
imitation, cognitive and conceptual
learning, problem solving, social
learning.

Learning

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Learning

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Learning

This theory developed by B.F. skinnr in which

There are many problems with using

2.Causes increased aggression

4.Does not necessarily guide toward desired behavior

In contrast, the “response” observed in Skinner’s

Is the reduction of a behavioral response

4.Change: changes in the stimuli make it

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