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Unit 3 in Context
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Nurture (Experience) ranges from input to action
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Perception – Input
Learning - Action
Between Input & Action: (subsequent units)
Memory
Thinking (Problem solving, inference, decision making,
creativity)
Communication
Some Thoughts on Learning
Definition
Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior as the
result of experience
“relatively permanent”
“experience” (information is processed)
Learning is observed in behavior
Learning & Memory Go Together
Memory - The study of how information from experience
is stored, retrieved, and used
Learning – The study of how behavior changes with
experience
Learning versus Performance
Learning versus Performance
Learning versus Performance
The Biological Value of Learning
1.) Inflexible: hard wired
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Instincts
Pine Processionary
The Biological Value of Learning
1.) Inflexible: hard wired
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Instincts
Pine Processionary
 Releasing Stimuli
Aggression
Mating
The Biological Value of Learning
2.) Maximum Flexibility: completely soft wired
Tabula Rasa
A Compromise View
3.) Hybrid: Soft/Hard wired
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Some hardwiring
Programmable (soft wiring)
Example: Language
Kinds of Learning
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Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning
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Operant (Instrumental) Conditioning
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Observational Learning
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Complex Learning (Ideas)
Operant Conditioning
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Skinner Box
Operant Conditioning
An Extreme View
John B. Watson: Father of Behaviorism:
“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my
own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee
to take any one at random and train him to become any
type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist,
merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief,
regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities,
vocations, and race of his ancestors. ..”
Li’l Albert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt0ucxOrPQE
Early Ideas About Learning
All is learned (tabula rasa)
 Learning is gradual, incremental
 Anything can be learned
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All is Learned
Evidence:
Gender Differences in Heterosexual Attractiveness
for long-term mates
Males: physical attributes of females
Females: ability of male to add resources
WHR
Biological Value of WHR
.7
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Males: Physical attractiveness (correlated with health)
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Females: Resources (care of offspring)
Learning Is Always Gradual?
All Can be Learned Equally Well?
Principles of conditioning apply to all possible combinations
of stimulus events.
Is learning always gradual, incremental, and can any
combination of events and responses be learned
equally well?
Conditioned Taste Aversion
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The Phenomenon
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Implications
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One Trial Learning
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Selectivity of Learning
What can Rats Learn?
US
Illness
Taste
CS
Place
Shock
What can Rats Learn?
Illness
Shock
Taste
YES
No
Place
No
Yes
A Complex Application of Pavlovian
Conditioning: Heroine Overdose Death
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The Phenomenon
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The Explanation:
Phobias and Classical Conditoning
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Definition
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Examples
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Conditioning Explanation
Drug Injection
Drug Effect
Drug Effect
US
Drug Opposite Effect
UR
“Environmental CUES ’’
CS
+
Drug Opposite Effect
UR
CS elicits Drug Opposite Effect
Before
Drug Effect
Tolerance
Change “Cues”
No Drug Opposite Effect
Change “Cues”
No Drug Opposite Effect
D O A