Experimental Psychology PSY 433 Chapter 9 Conditioning and Learning
Willow the Reading Dog n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=S_Lhwu. N 1 c 1 U n http: //thestarryeye. typepad. com/pets/2009/10/youtube-video-willow-a-dog-that-can-read. html
Learning n A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge as a result of experience n Conditioning means learning. n Classical (respondent) conditioning -- learn an association between two stimuli n Instrumental (operant) conditioning -- learn an association between a behavior and a particular outcome.
Pavlov’s Studies
Classical Conditioning Prior to conditioning Neutral stimulus (tone) (Orientation to sound but no response) UCS (food powder in mouth) UCR (salivation) Conditioning Neutral stimulus CS (tone) + UCS (food powder) CR (salivation) After conditioning CS (tone) CR (salivation)
Classical Conditioning Examples n Dog learns to associate food with the sight of a dog food can. n Patient learns to associate the sight of the dentist’s office with the pain of dental work (drill). n Standing in front of the refrigerator until you feel hungry for something. n Hot dogs at the ballpark, popcorn at the movies. n Phobias – fear of flying.
Operant Conditioning n Operant conditioning – consequences of a behavior determine whether it will be repeated in the future. Thorndike’s S-R learning. n Also called instrumental conditioning. n n Skinner box – an animal is rewarded each time it makes a specific response.
Positive reinforcement adds a good thing Negative reinforcement removes bad thing Increases Reinforcement + Behavior Consequences Punishment Reduces Punishment adds a bad thing Response cost removes good thing
Four Kinds of Consequences
Creative Punishment
More Terminology n Discriminative stimulus – signals the opportunity to perform a behavior and get a reward. Traffic light tells us when to go. n “Open” sign tells us when we can buy coffee. n n Extinction – after learning, reward is withheld and the behavior gradually stops occurring. n Null contingency – no relationship between reward or punishment and behavior exists.
DVs in Learning Experiments n Response rate – number of responses as a function of time. n Response amplitude -- amount of saliva. n Response latency -- time to accomplish a response. n Time to complete a maze n Resistance to extinction -- how long it takes a response to go away once it stops being rewarded.
IVs in Learning Experiments n Magnitude of reinforcement (size of reward). n Delay prior to reinforcement. n Amount of deprivation (motivation to obtain the reward). n Intensity of the CS and UCS in classical conditioning.