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Introduction to Psychology Suzy Scherf Lecture 6: How Do We Act? Learning and the Role of Experience. Psychology without Evolution. Behaviorists -. Nativists -. Psychology without Evolution. Behaviorists and Nativists came up with same conclusion:
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Introduction to Psychology Suzy Scherf Lecture 6: How Do We Act? Learning and the Role of Experience
Psychology without Evolution Behaviorists - Nativists -
Psychology without Evolution Behaviorists and Nativists came up with same conclusion: Since learning results from an individual’s experience:
Psychology without Evolution 1. Nature vs. Nurture - 2. Genetic Fallacy - 3. Instincts control animal behavior -
Genetic Fallacy The idea that traits with a genetic basis are automatically fixed and inflexible.
Instincts vs. Learning What do we mean by “instincts”
Instincts vs. Learning Even animal behaviors that appear to be completely “instinctual” require learning:
Instincts vs. Learning What do we mean by “learning”
Instincts vs. Learning Even animal behaviors that appear to be completely “learned” are influenced by the genotype:
Psychology with Evolution 1. 2. 3. 4.
Genes Differ in Responsiveness to the Environment 1. Obligate Effects -
Why Design an Obligate Adaptation? • When a single solution works best across a wide range of environments • Obligate traits ‘expect’ a certain range of environments Experience Still Matters:
Genes Differ in Responsiveness to the Environment 2. Facultative Effects -
Why Design a Facultative Adaptation? 1. When the environment is variable within the lifetimes of individuals. 2. When the fittest alternative varies from one environment to the next
Norm of Reaction for a Facultative Trait: High (Phenotype) Low Low (Environment) High Levelof Melanin Synthesis Level of UVb Radiation
Reaction Range for an Obligate Trait: Discontinuous Abnormal (Range of Normal Phenotype) (Range of Normal Environment) Abnormal
Selection will prefer facultative or obligate traits depending on -
What Kind of Learning? • Learning involves - • Learning mechanisms are - • Facultative adaptations are -
What Kind of Learning? 1. Birds learning “star compass” - 2. Ants navigation home in most efficient way using “dead reckoning” 3. Human infants learning language - 4. Monkeys showing “insight” in food foraging
What Kind of Learning? 5. Dogs being classically conditioned - 6. Cats being operantly conditioned - 7. Human’s learning to play a game of weather forecasting using - 8. Monkeys learning to do -
Concepts Relevant to Learning 1. Ecological Context - - • EEA (Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness):
Concepts Relevant to Learning 2. Critical Period Learning - • Specialized to happen once - • Indigo Buntings - • Human’s -
Concepts Relevant to Learning 2. Critical Period Learning - • Requires specialized experiences to develop • Time window - • Traits vary in their sensitivity to critical periods
Concepts Relevant to Learning 2. Critical Period Learning - • Deprivation and excessive enrichment experiences - • Related to plasticity • Different brain systems -
Concepts Relevant to Learning 3. Preparedness - • Over-prepared -
Concepts Relevant to Learning 3. Preparedness - • Under-prepared -
Are there any General-Purpose Learning Mechanisms? • Can we think of any general problems that animals face? • Problems that would be solved with a single learning mechanism?
Classical Conditioning • Learning that some external thing can elicit a reaction from your body • Forming an association (noticing a pairing) between -
Classical Conditioning is Still not General-Purpose
Operant Conditioning: Learning Associations between Behaviors and Consequences
Operant Conditioning Reinforcers and Punishers affect behavior Reinforcers - Punishers -
Operant Conditioning Still not general-purpose
Limitations of Conditioning 1. 2. 3. 4.