Outline for Learning

  1. Focus on the Behavioral aspect for the semester.

i.                     You are all animals lets get that straight.

ii.                    Natural Selection

iii.                  Charles Darwin  

ii.                   Survival of the fittest  

iii.                 Natural Mutations                                                    

iv.                  Variability

v.                    Limits to change

iv.                  Reflexes

i.                     Involuntary response

ii.                    Self preservation

iii.                  Sensitization

iv.                  Habituation

v.                   Fixed Action Patterns

i.                     Instinct

ii.                    Biological

iii.                  Releasers

iv.                  Complexity

v.                   Migration

vi.                  (General) Inherited Behavior Traits

i.                     Not specific behavior

ii.                   Response type of behavior

iii.                 Type of reaction

iv.                  Level of Reaction

v.                    Small Black Dog

vi.                  HAS and LAS

vii.                Twin Studies

viii.              Adaptive and Maladaptive

vii.                Learning

i.                     Experience

ii.                   Individual Change

iii.                 Wisdom vs. Fixed Action Pattern

iv.                  The rest of the course

viii.               Nature vs. Nurture Theory

  1. How to Study Behavior and learning

i.                     Science is the ability to measure a lawful relationship between events

ii.                    Definition of learning

i.                     Change

ii.                   Acquisition

iii.                 Behavior vs. Potential

iv.                  Experience

v.                    Response Events

1.        Behavior

2.        Response

3.        Specific definition of behavior (OD)

vi.                  Stimulus Events

1.        Identify Experience

2.        Stimulus

3.        Response

vii.                Contingency

1.        S-R relationship between events

2.        If-Then

viii.              Contiguity

1.        Time between Stimulus Event and Response event

2.        In outlining you never just have one level

ix.                  Ways to measure learning

1.        Shape of response  - is the dog behavior different after we have walked a lot

2.        How the subject responds – does the dog get excited each time we go for a walk?

3.        Change in shape – can the behavior change from excitement to pouting?

4.        Error rate – How may times during a trial does is the incorrect behavior produced?

5.        Intensity – how strong is the behavior (how hard does she bite)?

6.        Speed – how many times do they respond?

7.        Latency – reaction time of behavior – stimulus – how long for response?

8.        Responding Rate - how many times does the behavior occur?

9.        Cumulative Record – how many responses in an given time?

10.     Duration – how much time has the behavior been produced?

iii.                  Types of research

i.                     Case Study

1.        Anecdotal Evidence

2.        Time constraints

ii.                    Experimental Research

1.        Independent Variable

2.        Dependant Variable

3.        Experimental Groups

4.        Control Groups

5.        Confounding Variables

iii.                  Between Subjects Experiments

1.        Matched Samples

2.        Inter-observer reliability

iv.                  Within – Subject Experiments

1.        Baseline period

2.        ABA Reversal Design

3.        Counterbalancing

v.                   Experimental Limitations

vi.                  Animal Use

iv.                  Limits to learning

  1. Classical Conditioning (Sniffy task 1)

i.                     Pavlov experiment

i.                     UCS  ŕ UCR

1.        unconditional reflex

2.        conditional reflex

ii.                   CS

1.        Simple Stimulus

2.        Compound stimulus

a.        Pseudo conditioning

b.        Preconditioning

c.        Latent inhibition

d.        Blocking

e.        Overshadowing

iii.                 Associations

a.        Contingency

b.        Contiguity

2.        Trace

a.        CS pause UCS

3.        Delayed

a.        CS...UCS

4.        Simultaneous

a.        CS/UCS

5.        Backwards

a.        UCS…CS

iv.                  How to measure Classical Conditioning

1.        Test trials

2.        Inter trial interval

3.        Rate of acquisition

4.        Resistance to extinction

v.                    Extinction

1.        Spontaneous Recovery

vi.                  Other theories

1.        Stimulus substitution

2.        Sensory preconditioning

  1. Pavlovian Applications

i.                     Prejudice

ii.                    Advertising

iii.                  Fear conditioning

iv.                  Taste aversions

v.                   Immune system functioning

 

5.      Operant Procedures – Reinforcement

i.                     Thorndike –          Discrete trials procedure

1.          Law of effect

 

ii.                    Skinner –               Free operant procedure

1.          Shaping

a.        Successive approximation

b.        Chaining

i.                     Backward chaining

ii.                    Forward chaining

iii.                  Response chain

3.        Reinforcement

a.        Positive reinforcement

b.        Negative reinforcement

i.                     Conditioned reinforcer

ii.                    Negative reinforcer

iii.                  Primary reinforcer

iv.                  Secondary reinforcer

4.        Extinction

a.        Resurgence –increase in previously reinforced behavior

b.        Spontaneous recovery

5.        Controlling Variables

a.        Contingency

b.        Contiguity

c.        reinforcer characteristics

d.        Type of behavioral tasks

e.        Amount of Deprivation

f.         Individual learning

6.        The theories of reinforcement

a.        Drive reduction theory

b.        Relative Value theory

c.        Response Deprivation theory

d.        Are they all the same, they are not the best…

7.        Avoidance training

a.        Increase in procrastination behavior

b.        Using negative reinforcement

c.        Two process theory

i.                     Association produces anxiety (Pavlovian)

ii.                    Behavior reduces anxiety (operant reinforcement)

d.        Once process theory

i.                     Not getting the shock increases the behaviors used to reduce the shock.

ii.                    Behaviors that produce negative consequences

 

  1. Punishment is not the best

i.                     Differences between Operant Conditioning and Classical Conditioning.   Are they the same really?i.                     Two-Process theory – Punishment involves both Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning because the association creates uncomfortable feelings.

ii.                    One-Process theory that punishment is mirror image of reinforcement

ii.                    Reinforcement is the key to learning behavior.

iii.                  Punishment works – if strong, and quick,

i.                     If no other behavior is reinforced then learning is not occurring. 

ii.                    Escape – being reinforced for other behaviors to avoid punishment

1.          cheating and lying

2.          suicide behavior reinforced by removal of punishment.

iii.                  Aggression – Reacting against punishment

iv.                  Without an escape attack is the next step

v.                   Attack of inanimate objects as a reinforcement

vi.                  Rationalized aggressive behavior

iv.                  Apathy

i.                     I don’t care.

ii.                    Depression

iii.                  No reinforcement nothing to do. 

v.                   Abuse

i.                     The punisher can gain reinforcement from hurting the punishie

ii.                    With the only form of behavior modification –doesn’t work and as a result increase the strength of the punishment and no recourse. 

vi.                  Imitation of Punisher

i.                     Learned dealing with behavior and use similar methods.

ii.                    Cycle of violence.

  1. Alternatives to Punishment in behavioral modification

i.                     Response prevention

i.                     Alter environment to remove behaviors

ii.                    Limitations alas

ii.                    Extinction

i.                     Limit reinforcements for bad behavior

ii.                    Identify what is reinforcing in the desired behavior

iii.                  Must learn how to fish…

iii.                  Differential reinforcement

i.                     Reinforce a slowdown in bad behavior – not absence

ii.                    Reinforcement  of incompatible behavior

1.          Find a behavior that is incompatible with bad behavior

2.          Increase reinforcement with opposite behavior

3.          i.e. reward those students that are sitting quietly

iii.                  Reinforcement of alternative behaviors

1.          Focus and reinforce other behavior

2.          Must reduce offending behavior.

  1. Operant Applications

i.                     Animal Care and Training

i.                     A horse that can do calculus

ii.                    A chicken that can play checkers

iii.                  Problem animal behavior

ii.                    Insightful Problem Solving

i.                     Reinforcement is not obvious

1.          Trial and error to solve problem

2.          Generalized concept to solution

3.          Practice makes problem solving early

iii.                  Self-awareness

i.                     What does it mean to be self aware?

ii.                    Can a computer be self aware?

iii.                  What steps are used to condition self awareness?

iv.                  Superstition

i.                     Variable time reinforcement

ii.                    Erroneous prophecy

iii.                  If it works it works

v.                   Creativity

i.                     New behavior

ii.                    Reinforcement for novel behavior

iii.                  “even small brained species can show remarkable creativity if it is systematically reinforced”

vi.                  Learned Helplessness and Depression

i.                     Rat taped to the floor

ii.                    Prevention rather than treatment

g.        Self-Injurious Behavior

h.        Conditioned responses?

iii.                  Reinforcement greater than punishment

h.        Verbal behavior

i.          Accents

ii.                    Learning to talk

iii.                  Guiding conversations

vii.                Self-control

i.                     Willpower

ii.                    Physical restraint

iii.                  Distances

iv.                  Distraction

v.                   Deprivation – salvation

vi.                  Monitors

 

  1. Generalization

i.                     Behavior is reinforced

i.                     Similar behavior is reinforced as well

ii.                    Higher the values of reinforcement higher the amount of generalization

iii.                  Concept and Semantic are easier to generalize than just similar sounding words.

ii.                    Behavior is punished

i.                     Similar behaviors may be punished as well

ii.                    Social phobias

iii.                  Suppression of creative ideas in high school

  1. Discrimination

i.                     Discrimination training

i.                     Give a S and then reinforce it

ii.                    present another S- and do not reinforce it

1.          Successive discrimination training

2.          Matching to Sample

3.          Errorless training

4.          Differential Outcomes (reinforced for each choice differently)

ii.                    Stimulus control

1.          When training brings the behavior under stimulus control

a.          You are waiting at a stop light to go forward

b.         You respond to signs in the doorway

c.          Eating when we do not need to

d.         Don’t press that red button!

e.          Drug addiction

  1. Vicarious Learning

i.                     Basic learning – change in behavior due to experiences

ii.                    Instincts  –

iii.                  Classical Conditioning –

iv.                  Operant learning –

v.                   Vicarious learning –

i.                     Observer and Modeling

ii.                    Pavlov – you develop a conditioned response to seeing something

1.          horror movie

2.          generalized fears

3.          sexual arousal

4.          Social Stigma

5.          No beer no TV makes homer go something something… Crazy? Don’t mind if I do!

6.          (maybe high order conditioning)

iii.                  Operant conditioning –

1.          Rosekrans and Hartup – will the real Bandura step forward!

2.          Superstitious behavior irrelevant consequences

3.          Modeling language

iv.                  Imitation –

1.          If imitation is reinforced then the behavior can become learning

2.          If imitative behavior is not reinforced, then the imitation is reinforced, no the behavior.

3.          Reinforce imitation  - Generalized imitation

v.                   Consequences of model behavior –

vi.                  Consequence of observer behavior –

vii.                Model characteristics –

viii.               Age –

ix.                   Learning History –

  1. Forgetting

i.                     The deterioration of a learned behavior following period without practice

ii.                    Measure

i.                     retention of information

ii.                    free recall

iii.                  Prompted or cued recall

iv.                  Relearning - can you learn the list again faster the second time

v.                   Delayed matching to sample

vi.                  Extinction method

vii.                The longer you go without reinforcement, the longer it takes to relearn the behavior

iii.                  Variables controlling

i.                     Length of retention and forgetting

ii.                    how well you learn o start with (overlearning)

iii.                  Prior learning (attachment to items previously know)

1.          proactive interference

2.          new material can interfere with stored material

3.          Opinions about material can make you remember what you want to see

iv.                  Retroactive interference

1.          new material interferes with old stuff

2.          change phone numbers or car plates

3.          Students names

v.                   Cue-dependant learning

      1. State dependant learning

vi.                  Learning to Remember

i.                     flash cards

ii.                    Overlearn (do not stop when you think you know it)

iii.                  Mnemonics

iv.                  Prompts

1.          Multi modal leaning

2.          Cannot forget

13.  Schedules of Reinforcement

a.          How does a subject get reinforcement?

i.          Continuous Reinforcement 

ii.                    Fixed interval schedule – post reinforcement pause

iii.                  Fixed ratio schedule

iv.                  Variable interval schedule

1.          Fixed duration

2.          Variable duration

v.                   Variable ratio schedule – resistance to extinction

vi.                  Differential Reinforcement High Rate

1.          If the behavior occurs at a high rate then reinforcement

2.          Reinforce the increase in the rate of the behavior.

vii.                Differential Reinforcement Low Rate

1.          Reinforce the fewer times of behavior occurrence

2.          Self Control

viii.               If the rate at which the behavior decreases give reinforcement

ix.                   Partial reinforcement extinction effect (PRE) and effects from:

1.          Resistance to extinction

2.          Leaner the schedule the more resilient to extinction

3.          Stretching the ratio

a.          ratio strain

b.         1,000,000 key presses…

iii.                  Frustration hypothesis  

        1. the reduction of frustration  (Amsel) is reinforcing
      1. The lever pressing reduces frustration
      2. The behavior itself become reinforcing

c.          What does the response rate look like when a subject on this type of schedule

i.          identify a Sniffy graph

1.          Fixed interval schedule 

2.          Fixed ratio schedule

3.          Variable interval schedule

4.          Variable ratio schedule

  1. Operant applications is cognitive psychology.

i.                     Rodgers Self theory

i.                     Self esteem is reinforcing

ii.                    Development of self esteem is from reinforcement of positive behavior from peers and parents

iii.                  Without positive reinforcements child can become depresses and dysfunctional

iv.                  When incongruence develops child must seek reinforcing behaviors.

v.                   Self worth is derived from the conditionality of the reinforcement that it receives.  (unconditional v.s conditional)

ii.                    Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

i.                     When needs are not satisfied then anxiety is produced. 

ii.                    The reduction of anxiety increase the seeking of reduction behaviors. ( – reinforcement)

1.          Biological needs, safety and Love are all a primary reinforcer

2.          Esteem needs are a conditioned reinforcer

3.          Self actualization is internally reinforcing, and working to it’s goal is reinforcing.

iii.                  Piaget developmental stages

i.                     What the infant is biologically ready for becomes reinforcing. 

ii.                    As the child’s brain develops, the more complex behaviors can be reinforcing.

iii.                  They can control themselves- they can reduce needs!

iv.                  Language – communication of needs

v.                   Classification -

iv.                  Erikson’s stages of development

i.                     At each stage there is crisis

ii.                    The resolution of that crisis is reinforcing.

iii.                  As the child becomes older, more complex behaviors are reinforced.

iv.                  The act of the behaviors themselves becomes reinforcing.

v.                   Social Psychology

i.                     We form groups because they are reinforcing.  Each person believing the same things reduces conflict, and anxiety

ii.                    When we are in a group there is less likelihood of being identified, therefore less likely to be punished for bad behavior.

iii.                  When in a large group, there is also less likelihood of acting differently that the group, as to stand out and not be accepted.

iv.                  Observational learning, if those around you are acting one way and not being punished, then you can act that way also.