Study Guide: Chapter 5 - The Behavioral Perspective

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov’s Experiment)

• Classical Conditioning: Learning to associate two stimuli to produce a reflex response.

• Key Terms:

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally causes a response (e.g., food).

  • Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural reaction (e.g., salivation).

  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Originally neutral, now triggers response (e.g., metronome).

  • Conditioned Response (CR): Learned reflex to CS (e.g., salivating at metronome).

• Acquisition: NS + UCS repeatedly paired until NS becomes CS.

• Extinction & Spontaneous Recovery: A learned response can disappear but may reappear later.

• Stimulus Generalization & Discrimination:

  • Generalization: Responding to similar stimuli.

  • Discrimination: Learning to distinguish between different stimuli.

• Conditioned Emotional Response (CER): Phobias formed via conditioning (e.g., "Little Albert").

• Vicarious Conditioning: Learning by observing others’ reactions.

Operant Conditioning (Thorndike & Skinner)

• Law of Effect (Thorndike):

  • Behavior followed by pleasant outcomes → repeated.

  • Behavior followed by unpleasant outcomes → not repeated.

• B.F. Skinner & Operant Conditioning:

  • Learning depends on consequences of behavior.

  • Reinforcement (increases behavior):

    • Positive Reinforcement: Adding pleasant stimulus (e.g., reward).

    • Negative Reinforcement: Removing unpleasant stimulus (e.g., taking aspirin for a headache).

  • Punishment (decreases behavior):

    • By Application (Positive Punishment): Adding something unpleasant (e.g., extra chores).

    • By Removal (Negative Punishment): Taking away something pleasant (e.g., no phone time).

Additional Concepts in Operant Conditioning

• Discriminative Stimulus: A cue signaling that behavior will be reinforced (e.g., slowing for a police car).

• Shaping: Reinforcing small steps to achieve complex behavior.

• Instinctive Drift: Animals revert to instinctual behaviors.

• Behavior Modification: Using reinforcement to change behavior (e.g., token economy, time-out).

Cognitive Learning Theory

• Learning involves mental processes.

• Tolman’s Latent Learning: Learning occurs but isn’t demonstrated until needed.

• Köhler’s Insight Learning: Sudden realization of a solution (“Aha!” moment).

• Seligman’s Learned Helplessness: Repeated failures lead to inaction.

Observational Learning (Bandura & Bobo Doll Experiment)

• Learning by Watching Others

  • Key Elements (AMID):

    1. Attention – Focus on the model.

    2. Memory – Remember the action.

    3. Imitation – Physically capable of mimicking behavior.

    4. Desire – Motivation to replicate the action.