Behaviorism and learning

LEARNING

  • Definition of Learning:

    • Learning is defined as any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience.

    • The process is influenced by internal and external factors that can both help or hinder learning.

BEHAVIORISM

  • Definition:

    • Behaviorists propose that psychologists should study observable, measurable behaviors, seeking the simplest explanations for these behaviors.

    • Focus:

    • Study of what organisms do and the circumstances under which these actions occur.

OPERANT CONDITIONING

  • Overview:

    • A learning process described by Edward Thorndike involving modification of behavior based on reinforcements that follow responses.

    • Key Concept: The subject's behavior is determined and affected by specific outcomes.

EDWARD THORNDIKE

  • Biography:

    • Thorndike was an American psychologist known for his significant impact on reinforcement theory.

    • Contributed to the basic framework for empirical laws in behavior psychology.

LAW OF EFFECT

  • Definition:

    • Thorndike's Law of Effect states that behaviors followed by satisfying results are likely to be repeated while those followed by undesirable consequences are less likely to occur.

    • Implication:

    • Any action leading to positive outcomes or rewards is more likely to be repeated.

    • Conversely, actions followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THORNDIKE & SKINNER

  • Thorndike's Focus:

    • Law of Effect.

  • Skinner's Contribution:

    • Developed the Reinforcing Stimulus concept, which operates under the framework of Operant Conditioning.

    • The effect of a stimulus is to increase the likelihood of behavior prior to reinforcement.

B.F. SKINNER

  • Overview:

    • Considered the most influential of all radical behaviorists.

    • Demonstrated numerous applications of operant conditioning.

    • Advocated for scientific parsimony: prefer simpler explanations and avoid inferring complex mental processes, known as Occam’s Razor.

    • Occam’s Razor:

    • Principle stating that simpler explanations are generally preferable.

    • Theories must be understandable and testable; more assumptions equate to more complexity, complicating understanding.

SKINNER BOX EXPERIMENT

  • Description of Experiment:

    • Skinner designed the “Skinner Box” for experiments on rats.

    • Procedure:

    • A hungry rat was placed inside the box and initially inactive.

    • Eventually, the rat explored the box and discovered a lever that, when pressed, released food.

    • The press of the lever correlated with the rat’s hunger, reinforcing the behavior over subsequent trials, leading to immediate lever pressing upon being placed in the box.

OPERANT CONDITIONING DEFINED

  • Definition:

    • Operant Conditioning is a learning form in which behaviors are influenced by their rewards and consequences.

    • Key Example:

    • Pressing the lever is the operant behavior and food is the consequence.

REINFORCEMENT

  • Definition:

    • A reinforcement is any event that increases the probability that a response will be repeated.

    • Reinforcement increases the likelihood of the most recent behavior occurring again.

    • Key Concept:

    • Anything that occurs after a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior reoccurring is considered reinforcement.

REINFORCEMENT AND PUNISHMENT

  • Types of Reinforcement:

    • Positive Reinforcement:

    • Presentation of a desirable item (e.g., money, food).

    • Negative Reinforcement:

    • Removal of an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., verbal nagging).

  • Definition of Punishment:

    • An event that aims to stop the current behavior but may not prevent future behavior; tends to be ineffective except for temporarily suppressing undesirable behavior.

EXTINCTION IN OPERANT CONDITIONING

  • Definition:

    • Extinction occurs when responses stop producing reinforcements.

    • Example:

    • A child whines for a cookie. If the cookie is no longer given, the whining will stop over time.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

  • Definition:

    • Positive reinforcement involves the presentation of an event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring.

    • Examples:

    • A parent praises a child for excellent performance.

    • A waiter receives a tip for good service.

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

  • Definition:

    • Involves responses that lead to an escape from or avoidance of something painful.

    • Examples:

    • Taking aspirin to relieve headache.

    • Putting on a seatbelt to stop an annoying alert sound in a car.

    • Cleaning a room to avoid parental nagging.

    • Giving a cookie to stop a child's whining.

IMPORTANCE OF REINFORCEMENT

  • Specificity:

    • Reinforcement is specific to each person and may need alteration to avoid satiation.

    • Must be contingent upon the behavior and not available at other times to maintain its effectiveness.

  • Process of Establishing New Behavior:

    • Initially, reinforcement should occur after every behavior until the behavior is established, then implement a reinforcement schedule.

    • Example in Potty Training:

    • Reinforcer given every time until behavior is established, then reduced to intermittent reinforcement.