Unit 5 Psych- Behaviorism

Human behavior is due to

1. psychodynamic

2. behavioral

3. cognitive

4. biological

5. cross-cultural

6. evolutionary

7. humanistic

observable behavior

can’t know what’s going on in anyone’s mind, so focus on what can be seen

• can camouflage the truth

• Resting Bitch Face

Tabula Rasa

humans are born a blank slate and become a product of their environment through the process of conditioning (reinforcement and punishment)

Behaviorism

• all behavior can be explained by previous life experiences

• focus on observal behavior

Behaviorism definition

focusing on observable behaviors and how they’re learned is more important than guessing about inner experiences or mental processes

shaping

positively reinforce successive approximations toward the desired goal behavior

law effect

any behavior followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which a behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or made less likley if followed by a punishment

Positive Punishment

+ADD undesirable event to make the act less likely to be repeated

• eating so much you get sick, a punch to the gut if late to class

Negative Punishment

-SUBTRACT desirable event to make the act less likely to be repeated

• detention, losing license after DUI

Positive Reinforcement

+ADD event to make the act more likely to be repeated

• verbal praise, stickers, a treat

Negative Reinforcement

-SUBTRACT event to make the act more likely to be repeated

• no homework if pay attention

Contingency (in operant conditioning)

If this behavior is done, it will consistently be followed by this consequence

• if i study, i will get a good grade

Observational Learning

the act of watching and mimicking models to learn behavior

Vicarious Learning

the experience in imagination through someone else’s actions

Insight Learning

the sudden realization of how to solve a problem

Latent Leanring

one can learn something unconsciously but not show the behavior right away

Cognitive Map

detailed mental representations of environments (like a mental map of your neighborhood)

Primary Reinforcement

natural reinforcement (baby

• food, water, sleep, air, companionship, security

Secondary Reinforcement

The subject has to learn to value

• Token Economy

Token Economy

Token of some sort is used as positive reinforcement that can be traded in for something that the individuals value

Aquisition

the learner has become conditioned (shaping response)

Generalization

the learner associates the learning with other similar stimuli

Discrimination

the learner does not generalize

Extinction

the process of “de-conditioning” the learning

Spontaneous Recovery

a kind of “flashback” to earlier conditioning after extinctions

Instinctive Drift

Animals revert back to their instinctual behavior

• Raccoons, punching someone in the face when scared

Continuous Reinforcement

reward each time the behavior is performed

Intermittent Reinforcement

The reward is not given each time, but instead on a schedule

Fixed Ration (FR)

The consequence is delivered after a set #

• 3 math problems correct, get one bonus point

• rat gets food every 4 levers pressed

Variable Ratio (VR)

The consequence is delivered after a varying #

• door-to-door sales

• buying raffle tickets

• gambling

extinction

Fixed Interval (FI)

The consequence is delivered after a set amount of time

• studying for a scheduled quiz

• rat gets after everytime

Variable Interval (VI)

The consequence is delivered after a varying amount of time

• fishing

• studying for a pop quiz

Classical Conditioning

a type of learning in which one associates two (or more) stimuli, resulting in a new stimuli → response connection

Unconditional Stimuli (USC/US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response (e.g., food).

Unconditional Response (URC/UR)

The unlearned, natural reaction to the UCS (e.g., salivating at the sight/smell of food).

Conditional Stimuli (CSC/CS)

The previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the UCS, comes to trigger a response (e.g., the bell after being paired with food)

Conditional Response (CRC/CR)

The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus (CS) that is similar to the UCR (e.g., salivating to the bell alone)

Cognitive Learning

learning to learn

A learning theorists distinction

• “true” classical conditioning vs. associative learning

• must be truly reflexive

• Would a baby respond this way?

Contingency in classical conditioning

The CS must reliably predict the arrival of the UCS - otherwise, strong conditioning is unlikely

• the rat followed by scary noice

• tone sound, means food

Taste Aversions

• to make associations because it is good for our survival

evidence of biological preparedness

Aversive conditioning

Use of classical conditioning to get rid of unwanted behaviors by pairing them with an unpleasant UCS

• nail biting

• smoking

Biological preparedness

idea that organisms are innately predisposed to make connections with things that offer us evolutionary advantages

Second/Higher Order Conditioning

replacing the stimuli

Self Efficacy

belief in capability to act in a way to achieve a specific goal

Learned Helplessness

giving up, rather than trying to get out of a situation, because the past has taught you that you are helpless