In-Depth Notes on Learning and Conditioning
Chapter Overview
- Learning: A relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.
- Conditioning: Learning associations between events in an organism's environment.
- Non-Associative Learning:
- Habituation: Gradual decrease of response due to repeated exposure to a non-threatening stimulus.
- Example: Ignoring a continuous sound.
- Sensitization: Enhanced response to a repeated painful stimulus.
- Example: Increased response to pain after multiple exposures.
- Associative Learning:
- Classical Conditioning: Associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
- Operant Conditioning: Learning based on the consequences of behavior.
- Observational Learning: Learning by observing others.
- Insight Learning: Sudden realization of problems or concepts.
Habituation
- Defined as the CNS receiving a message but choosing to ignore it.
- Important to differentiate between habituation and fatigue or sensory adaptation, which are temporary responses.
Sensitization
- Contrast to habituation, involves an increased response to stimuli that may signal danger.
- Example: Repeated rubbing causing discomfort illustrates sensitization to touch.
Classical Conditioning
- Key Terms:
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that unconditionally triggers a response.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that has been conditioned to elicit a response.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): An unlearned, natural response to a UCS.
- Conditioned Response (CR): A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
Pavlov’s Experiment
- Pre-conditioning: UCS (food) elicited UCR (salivation).
- Conditioning Phase: Pairing a NS (bell) with UCS (food).
- Post-conditioning: NS becomes CS, now eliciting CR (salivation).
Sequence of Classical Conditioning
- Before Conditioning: UCS → UCR (food → salivation)
- During Conditioning: NS paired with UCS
- After Conditioning: CS → CR (bell → salivation)
Factors Influencing Classical Conditioning
- Forward vs. Backward Conditioning: Forward (CS before UCS) is more effective than backward (UCS before CS).
- Timing: Ideal interval for pairing is within 0.5 seconds.
Real-world Applications of Classical Conditioning
- Preferences, emotional reactions, or conditioned responses in advertising.
- Classical conditioning used in therapeutic settings (e.g., desensitization).
Operant Conditioning
- Founded on Thorndike's Law of Effect: Responses followed by satisfaction are likely to recur.
- B.F. Skinner’s Principles: Focus on reinforcement and consequences of behavior.
Key Components of Operant Conditioning
- Reinforcement: Consequences that increase the likelihood of behavior. Can be:
- Primary Reinforcers: Satisfy biological needs.
- Secondary Reinforcers: Conditioned to increase behaviors.
- Schedules of Reinforcement:
- Continuous: Reinforcement after every response.
- Intermittent: Reinforcement after a random number of responses or time intervals (fixed/variable).
Extinction in Operant Conditioning
- Removal of reinforcement leads to decline in behavior.
- Behaviors learned under variable reinforcement are more resistant to extinction.
Observational Learning
- Albert Bandura: Emphasized learning by observing the consequences of others' actions.
- Example: Bobo doll experiment demonstrating imitation of aggressive behavior.
Other Types of Learning
- Latent Learning: Learning that occurs without reinforcement, demonstrated through cognitive maps (Tolman).
- Insight Learning: Sudden realization and problem-solving (Kohler).
Summary of Differences in Learning Types
- Classical Conditioning: Involuntary, responses are elicited, and the learner isn’t aware of the learning.
- Operant Conditioning: Voluntary, responses are emitted, and the learner is aware of the learning process.