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Chapter 5: Learning The Andreasson
Web-Site: How important is learning in our lives? What have learned
to “hold onto?” What do we have to
learn to “let go of…” What new habits and skills help us to become successful
and happy? In this chapter we will explore
aspects of Classical and Operant Conditioning in both animals and humans. We
will discuss the role of Observational learning as applies to humans. The
work of I. Pavlov, J.B. Watson [Little Albert], & B.F Skinner will be
viewed in the context of the contributions they made to the psychology of
learning. Please read you schedule for additional topics listed. Lecture: The processes associated with classical
conditioning include stimulus generalization, stimulus discrimination,
extinction, and spontaneous recovery. The phenomena associated with operant
conditioning include positive and negative reinforcement, punishment,
shaping, successive approximations, and schedules of reinforcement. Observational
learning researchers study the factors that influence whether a model
will be imitated, as well as the influence of media violence or aggressive
behavior, etc. For example, what mass medial figure(s) helped to shape some
of your behaviors and/or dress code-decorations? Their were some very important
psychologists who helped shape the development of learning: Ivan Pavlov,
the Nobel Prize-winning Russian physiologist who first described classical
conditioning; John B. Watson, the founder of behaviorism, who
challenged mainstream thinking in psychology; Edward L. Thorndike, the
first psychologist to systematically study the effects of consequences on
behavior; B.F. Skinner, who used the “Skinner Box” and applied
principles of “operant conditioning to humans, Edward Tolman,
to contributed to our understanding of “cognitive maps” and “latent
learning;” and Albert Bandura, the
father of observational learning. Unlike the pioneers who developed the
theories of learning, most contemporary psychologists take into account the cognitive processes and biological predispositions that help determine
whether an organism will learn a behavior. So
my dear students, what is your favorite food(s)? Why do you like these foods?
What’s you’re favorite music and dress style? Why? Assignment: [chapter 5: Learning] Be prepared to discuss some aspects of learning
theory in both a practical and theoretical way. Use at least two of the
following sites and be prepared to share [or be called upon personally] this
with the class. Some of this will most likely involve “Team Presentations.” 1.
http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/bandura.html Albert Bandura’s
Personality Theory which discusses the theory of “reciprocal determinism. 2.
http://www.as.wvu.edu/~sbb.comm221/chapters/pavlov.htm Part
of a Web site on persuasion and influence related to a communications course
which presents a nice summary of classical conditioning. 3.
http://www.biozentrum.uni-
wuerzburg.de/genetics/behavior/learning/behaviorism.html Although rather a
long URL, this site presents a comprehensive overview of the early days of
behaviorism at this Web site. 4.
http://www.wagntrain.com/OC/ This site seems to provide commercial
animal trainers with tips has an outstanding, clear, and enormously useful
explanation of the process of Operant Conditioning. 5.
Go to Google.com.
Find something yourself on “Children and Media Violence.” What is your
personal opinion on this issue? Why? Class Discussion Topics: 1. What role
des habit play in your life? Do you consider yourself to have “good habits”
and “bad habits”? How do you think these developed? How [if you choose to]
would you go about altering these? 2. What are
the roles of generalization and discrimination in classical conditioning? 3. What is
the contribution of B.F. Skinner to learning psychology. 4. What is
the difference between Classical and Operant conditioning? 5. What are
the various kinds of reinforcement strategies? 6. What do
many psychologists disapprove of punishment? 7. How do
people learn by observing others? 8. What
happens when the model [or culture] is violent? |