Learning and Human Behavior

1. Learning and Human Behavior

2. What is learning? • The process by which an experience or practice results in a relatively permanent change in behavior or potential behavior “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

3. Forms of Learning • Change in behavior • Classical Conditioning • Instrumental(Operant) Conditioning • Change in potential behavior • Cognitive Learning • Social learning theory “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

4. Classical Conditioning • The type of learning in which a response naturally elicited/obtained by one stimulus comes to be elicited/obtained by a different, formerly neutral stimulus “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

5. Classical Conditioning continued…………………… Basic findings by Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Before conditioning (Bell) No response Unconditioned stimulus(Food) Unconditional response(Saliva) During conditioning Conditioned stimulus(Bell) Unconditioned stimulus (Food) Unconditional response (Saliva) After conditioning Conditioned stimulus (Bell) Conditional response (Saliva) (associated) “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

6. Classical Conditioning continued…………………… • Association and prediction • Conditions for Classical Conditioning • Timings • Repetition • Classical Conditioning in humans • Learning and unlearning phobias “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

7. Instrumental(Operant) Conditioning • The type of learning in which behaviors are emitted/produced (in presence of a specific stimuli) to earn rewards or avoid punishments • Basic findings by Thorndike (1898) and B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

8. “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

9. Comparison of Classical & Operant Conditioning • Similarities • Talk about associations • Same Features • Generalization • Discrimination • Experimental extinction • Spontaneous recovery • Differences • Elicit Behavior vs Emitted Behavior • Reflex/automatically triggered Action vs Voluntary Action • Passive vs Active “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

10. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Conditions for Operant Conditioning • Motivation • Reduction of opportunities of irrelevant action • Shaping: reinforcement of successive approximations towards desired behavior “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

11. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Law of effect/principle of reinforcement • Behavior that brings a satisfying effect (reinforcement) is apt to be performed again, whereas the behavior that brings a negative effect (punishment) is apt to be suppressed. • Reinforcer • An event/consequence that increases the likelihood that the behavior preceding it will occur again • Punishment • An event/consequence that decreases the likelihood that the behavior preceding it will occur again “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

12. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Types of reinforcers • Positive reinforcer • A pleasant event/consequence whose presence increases the likelihood that the ongoing behavior/response will recur • Negative reinforcer • Any event/consequence whose reduction or termination increases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

13. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Punishment • Conditions for effective Punishment • Swift • Sufficient • Consistent • Drawbacks • Only suppresses the undesired behavior • Stirs up negative feelings • Generates aggression • Must be used along with the positive reinforcers • Avoidance training can be used as an alternative strategy “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

14. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Learned helplessness • Failure to take steps to avoid or escape from an unpleasant or aversive stimulus that occurs as a result of previous exposure to unavoidable painful stimuli “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

15. Instrumental Conditioning continued…………………… • Positive reinforcement • Continuous reinforcement – low resistance to extinction • Partial reinforcement schedule – high resistance to extinction • Fixed interval – regular pays • Variable interval – irregular incentives • Fixed ratio • Rewards on achieving targets • Variable ratio • gambling “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

16. Cognitive Learning • Learning that depends on mental processes that are not directly observable • Experiments by Tolman & Honzik (1930) • Latent learning • Learning that is not immediately reflected in a behavior change • Cognitive map • A stored learned mental image of a spatial environment that may be called on or put to use when required. “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

17. “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

18. Cognitive learning continued…………………… • Insight • Learning that occurs rapidly as a result of understanding all elements of a problem • Learning set • The ability to become increasingly more effective in solving problems as more problems are solved “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

19. Social Learning Theory • The ability to learn by observing a model or receiving instructions, without firsthand experience by the learner • Conditions of learning • Attention • Memorable act • Motivation to convert observation into action • Observed reinforcement • Observed punishment • Learning vs Performance “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir

20. “Learning” Instructor: Saba Nasir