Recording-2025-02-20T00:39:26.527Z

Introduction to Learning in Psychology

• Learning is crucial in psychology because many therapeutic practices stem from learning theories, including cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Types of Learning

• Two main types of learning:

  • Classical Conditioning

  • Operant Conditioning

• Observational Learning is also significant, contributed by Albert Bandura.

Definition of Learning

• Learning: A relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience.

  • This change can be positive (gaining knowledge) or negative (developing phobias).

Associative Learning

• Learning primarily involves forming associations between events.

• Law of Association: Proposed by Aristotle, suggests we connect one event with another.

  • Example: A sea snail associating a splash of water with a shock.

  • Example: Lightning (stimulus 1) leads to anticipating thunder (stimulus 2).

• Responses are associated with consequences (e.g., seals balancing balls for fish reward).

Classical Conditioning: Ivan Pavlov

• Background: Ivan Pavlov was a physiologist who inadvertently discovered classical conditioning while studying dog digestion.

• Key Concepts:

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Food (produces automatic salivation).

  • Unconditioned Response (UR): Salivation (natural response to food).

  • Neutral Stimulus (NS): Tone (initially does not produce salivation).

  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Tone after conditioning (produces salivation).

  • Conditioned Response (CR): Salivation in response to tone.

• Acquisition: Initial learning stage where associations between NS and US occur.

  • Timing matters: NS should precede US closely (approx. half a second).

Other Key Processes in Classical Conditioning

• Extinction: When the US no longer follows the CS, the CR diminishes over time.

• Spontaneous Recovery: After extinction, a CR may reappear after a rest period.

• Stimulus Generalization: Responding to stimuli similar to the CS.

• Stimulus Discrimination: The ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and only respond to the specific CS.

Biological and Cognitive Constraints on Learning

• Early behaviorists underestimated cognitive processes in learning.

• Biological Constraints: Learning is influenced by an organism's biology (e.g., taste aversion).

• Classical Conditioning Applications: Used in therapies for addiction and fears, such as associating unpleasant effects with drugs.

Operant Conditioning: B.F. Skinner

• Operant conditioning involves associations between behaviors and resulting outcomes.

• Thorndike's Law of Effect: Behaviors followed by rewards are likely to be repeated.

• Skinner Box: A controlled environment for studying operant conditioning using reinforcement.

Key Concepts in Operant Conditioning

• Shaping: Gradually training a subject to perform a desired behavior by rewarding approximations.

• Reinforcement Types:

  • Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., praise for good behavior).

  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., stopping a beeping sound by buckling a seatbelt).

• Punishment Types:

  • Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., scolding).

  • Negative Punishment: Taking away a desired stimulus to decrease behavior (e.g., losing privileges).

• Reinforcement Schedules:

  • Fixed Ratio: Reinforcement after a fixed number of responses.

  • Variable Ratio: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., gambling).

  • Fixed Interval: Reinforcement after a fixed time interval.

  • Variable Interval: Reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals.

Observational Learning

• Learning by observing and imitating others.

• Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment: Demonstrated children's tendency to imitate behaviors they observe, especially those with perceived rewards or punishments.

• Media violence has been shown to increase aggression in children due to observational learning.

Conclusion

• Psychology integrates learning theories into therapeutic practices, helping to understand the behavioral changes stemming from both classical and operant conditioning.