Learning: Classical Conditioning and Observational Learning

Exam Feedback and Course Overview

  • Exam 1 Feedback:
    • Exam averages were good; great job by students.
    • Instructor will review videos and exam questions (today and tomorrow) to ensure fairness.
    • Exam Policy for Review: Questions that caused trouble for the majority (same incorrect answer, split answers) will be reviewed. This indicates a potential teaching or material clarity issue.
    • If questions are deemed problematic, points will be given back to all students.
  • Future Exams: The number of questions for future exams will likely be lowered, aiming to cap at approximately 3535 questions.
  • Semester Project: This project serves in lieu of a final exam.
    • It involves turning in a draft, receiving peer reviews, and then submitting a final product.
    • This assessment specifically uses principles of operant conditioning.
  • Upcoming Key Lectures:
    • Wednesday: Crucial lecture on Operant Conditioning. Students are strongly advised not to miss this class.
    • This Friday and Next Friday: Both group activities will focus on operant conditioning to reinforce understanding.
  • Today's Topics: Learning in general, classical conditioning, and observational learning. (Operant conditioning is being pushed to Wednesday to allow a full dedicated session).

Understanding Learning

  • Definition of Learning: The process through which we acquire new information through various experiences.
    • This involves experiencing new things (e.g., listening to a lecture, seeing slides) and cataloging that information in one's mind.
  • Types of Learning:
    • Non-Associative Learning:
      • Behavior programmed by instinct (more apparent in animals).
      • Often results in habitual responses to repeated events.
    • Cognitive Learning:
      • Acquiring information that then guides behavior.
      • Often involves learning from others' experiences through observation (events, people, language).
  • Response Changes in Learning: Responses can change as a result of varying experiences, leading to two main types:
    • Habituation: A decrease in the level of response to something that has occurred repeatedly.
      • The event is deemed harmless, uninteresting, or distracting, leading to reduced awareness over time.
      • Example: The sound of an air conditioner running. Initially noticeable, but over time, one habituates to it and no longer actively perceives it (unless attention is drawn to it).
    • Sensitization: An increase in the level of response to something.
      • As a result of an event, an individual becomes more alert or responsive.
      • Examples:
        • Watching horror movies can heighten the fight or flight response, making one more jumpy.
        • A car alarm going off while in REM sleep can immediately wake someone up, causing high alertness.
        • A child repeatedly yelled at by parents may become more sensitive to harsh tones, interpreting them as a threat even when anger is not intended.
      • Note: The same event can lead to either habituation or sensitization depending on the individual and context. For instance, a child constantly yelled at might either become highly sensitive to stern voices or, conversely, habituate and tune them out entirely.

What We Learn in Life

  • Classical Conditioning: We learn to anticipate and prepare for events by linking unrelated things together.
  • Operant Conditioning: We learn that certain actions lead to rewards (encouraging repetition) or consequences (encouraging avoidance).
  • Observational Learning: We learn socially and culturally acceptable behaviors by observing others.

Classical Conditioning: Expecting the Unrelated

  • Discoverer: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian and Soviet experimental neurologist and physiologist.
    • Discovered classical conditioning through experiments with dogs, leading to the widely known