LEARNING

Proverbs 9: 9-10
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a
righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge
of the Holy One is understanding.
Classical Condition
• Ivan Pavlov—Nobel prize winning physiologist
• http://vimeo.com/5371237
Classical Conditioning
• Classical
Conditioning–
• A neutral stimulus comes
to elicit a response after
being paired with
stimulus that naturally
produces that response.

• Bell + food = salivation

• Bell = salivation
Classical Conditioning
• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Naturally brings about a
particular response without being learned.

• Unconditioned Response (UR): Natural response that

needs no training.

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Once neutral stimulus that

now produces a response

• Conditioned Response (UR): A response to the CS that

used to be for the US.
Classical Conditioning
• Extinction
• Previously conditioned response eventually disappears
• Spontaneous Recovery
• Reemergence of an extinct response after a reintroduction of the
CS
Classical Conditioning
• Stimulus Generalization: CR follows a similar stimulus to
the CS.
• Stimulus Discrimination: Distinct stimuli do not evoke a
CR
Operant Conditioning
• Operant conditioning: voluntary response is strengthened
or weakened depending on consequences.
• ABC
• B. F. Skinner
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA96Fba-WHk&feature=related
Operant Conditioning
• Reinforcement—stimulus increases the probability that a
preceding behavior will be repeated.

• Reinforcer—stimulus that increases the behavior

• Positive
• Negative

• Punishment—stimulus that decreases a behavior

• Positive
• Negative

• Which is better-- Reinforcing or Punishing?

Reinforcement Schedules
Shaping
• Shaping– process of learning by rewarding closer and
closer approximations of a task.
Behavior Modification
• Behavior Modification: Formalized technique for
promoting the frequency of desirable behavior and
decreasing the incidence of unwanted ones.
• Super Nanny
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okr8aK3KbYI
Cognitive Approaches
• Cognitive Learning Theory– view learning through the
cognitive processes that underlie it.
• Latent learning– learning that is not demonstrated until a
reward for that behavior is presented.
Social-Cognitive Approach
• Observational Learning– learning by watching others
• Albert Bandura
• Bobo Doll Experiments
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?y=vdh7MngntnI
Social-Cognitive Approach
• Violence in the Media
• By the end of elementary school:
• 8,000 Murders
• 800,000 Violent Acts

• Florida young male offenders

• ¼ attempted a media copy cat crime

• College students who play violent video games

• More likely to behave aggressively and delinquently
• Lower academic achievement