Behaviorism and Learning

Behaviorism

How environment and experience shape behavior

• Human behavior changes in direct response to the environment and behavior (“Nature”)

Who were the 5 behaviorists?

1. Ivan Pavloc

2. John B. Watson

3. Edward Thorndike

4. B.F. Skinner

5. Albert Bandura

What are the 3 behavior theories?

1. Classical

2. Operant

3. Observational/ cognitive

learning is relatively__ in behavior due to _.

permanent change, experience

Who proposed classical conditioning and what experiment is associated with this?

• Ivan Pavlov

• Salvation of dogs

UCS

unconditioned stimulus

• stimulus that naturally triggers a response

UCR

Unconditioned response

• Unlearned, natural response

CS

Conditioned stimulus

• the previously N.S. that becomes a learned trigger for the response

CR

Conditioned response

• The learned response to a C.S.

What is a reflex?

An inborn behavior

• USC + UCR= reflex

What is the acquisition/ learning trial?

N.S. is paired up with UCS and creates an C.S.

• The N.S. has to be paired up with USC repeatedly

Extinction

Lessening of a conditioned response

Spontaneous recovery

Reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period

Generalization

Stimuli that are similar to the CS will evoke some level of the CR

Discrimination

The ability to differentiate b/w a CS and other stimuli that have NOT been paired w/ an USC

• only responds to the specific conditioned stimulus preventing generalization

Who is John B. Watson and what experiment did he do?

He studied behavior that is Observable

• He did the ‘Little Albert’ experiment

Systematic Desensitization

Exposing feared item little by little

Counter Conditioning

Introduce happy stimulus then the fearned item over and over, little by little until not feared anymore

• essentially replacing fear with happiness

What person is associated with Operant conditioning and what experiment did he do?

B.F. Skinner

• Did the experiment ‘Skinner box’- worked with rat’s and pigeons

Operant conditioning: Engaged in behaviors that are _ ; avoid behaviors that are _

Rewarded; punished

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations of the behavior

Reinforcer/ reinforcement

Increase behavior

Punishment

decreases behavior

Positive

applying something

Negative

Taking away something

Positive Reinforcement

Application of reward for a desired behavior

Negative reinforcement

Taking away something aversive, for a desired behavior

• Ex: Sound when seat not buckled in the car, goes away after it clicks

Positive punishment

Application of something aversive

• Ex: A spanking to STOP a behavior

Negative punishment

Removal of something good to stop a behavior

• Ex: No Xbox because of bad grades

Behavior Modification

Applying operant principles to changing specific behaviors

Primary Reinforcers

Satisfy a physiological need

• like food and water

Negative Reinforcers

A conditioned- previously neutral, acquired thru association w/ primary reinforcer

• Ex: money, grades, praise

What does A.B.C. stand for?

• Antecedent

• Behavior

• Consequence

Antecedent

environmental stimulus and events that’s before the behavior

Behavior (In A.B.C.)

Specific responses the individual makes

Consequence

Stimuli and events immediately following the behavior

What is A.B.A.?

Applied Behavior Analysis

• Is intense, systemic

• 1st perform a functional analysis

How do you form a Functional analysis?

1. Obtain baseline

2. Do a functional analysis

3. Develop a treatment plan

4. Reassess for effectiveness

Token Economy

Items that can be traded for a reinforcer

• Autism example

Who is associated with Observational learning and what experiment is here?

Albert Bandura

• Bobo doll experiment (children modeling adults behavior towards a doll)

Observational Learning

Learning by observing the behavior of other ppl

• More of a cognitive form of learning because ppl have to pay attention, construct, and remember mental representations

Vicarious reinforcement

A process in which learners become more likely to perform/ imitate a behavior when they observe a model who is REWARDED for their behavior

Vicarious punishment

When children had seen the model punished, they DID NOT perform the behavior initially

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but is not exhibited until there is reinforcement or an incentive to do so

Facial expression imitation

Meltzoff: 2-3 wk old infants

• tongue protrusion is most reliable

• disappears after 1-2 mo.

What is the Premack Principle?

More probable behaviors can be used to reinforce less probable behaviors

• Ex: a student is more likely to complete their essay (less probable behavior) if they know they will get to eat chocolate (more probable behavior) afterward