Behaviorism and Learning

Behaviorism and Learning

1. Pavlov's classical conditioning

   • arises out of looking at salivary responses of dogs
   • Phase 1: UCS to USR
   • Phase 2: UCS and CS together to UCR
   • Phase 3: CS to CR

2. Watson's second order conditioning

   • modifies Pavlov's phases
     • Phase 1: UCS to UCR
     • Phase 2: UCS, CS, and associated CS2 to UCR
     • Phase 3: CS or CS2 etc. to CR
   • Little Albert and generalization
     • What is threshold of generalization vs. discrimination?

3. Thorndike

   • law of effects
     • A- antecendents, B- behaviors, C- consequences
       • A and B classical conditioning
       • B and C operant conditioning
     • more likely to behave in ways that produce favorable consequences
   • trial and error learning
   • instrumental conditioning
     • ledge test

4. Skinner's operant conditioning

   • reinforcement for desired behavior
     • positive reinforcement
     • negative reinforcement
     • schedules for reinforcement
       • ratio- based on number of times something happens
         • fixed- specific number of times
         • variable- different number of times (gambling)
       • interval- based on amount of time that passes
         • fixed interval- same amount of time goes by
         • irregular time periods
   • undesirable consequences for bad
     • add- punishment
     • subtract- extinction
   • shaping through reinforcement/consequences
     • gradual
     • conditioned reinforcer
     • don't delay reinforcement or give it early

5. criticisms

   • too little cognitive emphasis
   • mechanistic
   • too much of an environmental/determinist influence
   • not enough information on development
   • not enough about positive human traits like spontaneity and creativity

6. treatment

   • stimulus-response (all behaviors learned)
   • need operational definitions/scientific basis
   • principles of learning as a basis
     • shaping
     • generalizing
     • base line
     • frequency
     • duration
     • intensity
   • environmental determinants of behavior
   • identify and explain observational learning
   • later, work in social and cognitive aspects
   • useful for significant issues
   • research-friendly- CBT etc