PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNINGChapter III: Associative Learning

Operant Learning is a kind of associative learning whereby behavior is strengthened or weakened by its consequences.

Animals have the capacity to reason by presenting logical argument and conclusion to problems.

Can animals really think?

A behavior has typically one of the two kinds of consequences or effects:

1.Satisfying state of affairs; and

2.Annoying state of affairs.

The Law of Effect

The term OPERANT LEARNING indicates that the individual operates the environment.

In the attempt of perfecting Thorndike’s study on animal intelligence, Skinner developed what came to be the “Skinner’s box”.

He was then regarded as the founding father of operant conditioning.

“Classical conditioning has the tendency to be passive in terms of learning…”

CONDITIONED STIMULUS(CS)

UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS

(UCS)

CONSEQUENCES

INDIVIDUAL(perceiving

the situation and ACTING

on it)

MANIPULATING the ENVIRONMENT for our own BENEFIT

ENVIRONMENT

(presenting situation)

POSITIVE RESULTS(strengthening

behavior)

NEGATIVE RESULTS(weakening behavior)

A concept referring to an increase in the strength of behaviour due to its consequences.

1. Behaviour must have a consequence;

2. Behaviour must increase in strength; and

3. Increase in strength of behaviour must be the result of the consequence.

If I do X, then Y.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MEDS DAD.

CAN’T TALK RIGHT NOW. I’M

BLOGGING THIS!

If the tendency to do X has not been strengthened because of the Y, then,

there is no REINFORCEMENT.

CAUSE EFFECT

1. Positive Reinforcement

2. Negative Reinforcement

increases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the presentationof a pleasant stimulus.

increases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the removal of anunpleasant stimulus.

Primary Reinforcers are stimuli that naturally or innately reinforcing behaviour.

Secondary Reinforcers are reinforcing stimuli dependently associated with other reinforcers.

States that human behaviour is motivated by our needs.

Response Deprivation Theory states that behaviour becomes reinforcing when the organism is prevented from engaging in it at its normal frequency.

The natural tendency of an organism to eat.

Study the following:

1.Punishment2.Kinds of punishment3.Contingency and Contiguity4.Theories of Punishment

Punishment is a kind of stimulus that aims to decrease the strength in behaviour due to its consequence.

1. Behaviour must have a consequence;

2. Behaviour must decrease in strength; and

3. Decrease in strength of behaviour must be the result of the consequence.

1. Positive Punishment

2. Negative Punishment

decreases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the presentationof an unpleasant stimulus.

decreases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the removal of apleasant stimulus.

1. Positive Reinforcement

2. Negative Reinforcement

increases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the presentationof a pleasant stimulus.

increases the probability of behaviour'soccurrence due to the removal of anunpleasant stimulus.

Increases Decreases

Stimulus ispresented

Stimulus isremoved

POSITIVE REINFORCEME

NT

Strength of BehaviorStrength of Behavior

POSITIVE PUNISHMENT

NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

NEGATIVEREINFORCEME

NT

POSITIVE REINFORCEME

NT

NEGATIVE REINFORCEME

NT

POSITIVE PUNISHMENT

NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

1. Contingency2. Contiguity3. Intensity of Punishment4. Introductory Level of Punishment5. Reinforcement of the Punished Behaviour

“The degree to which punishment weakens a behaviour varies with the degree to which a punishing event is dependent on that behaviour.”

“The interval between a behaviour and a punishing consequence has a powerful effect on learning. The longer the delay, the slower the learning.”