Three Major Types of Learning (2024)

Three Major Types ofLearning

1)Learningthrough association - ClassicalConditioning

2)Learningthrough consequences – Operant Conditioning

3)Learningthrough observation – Modeling/Observational Learning

LEARNING

Learningis a change in behavior or in potential behavior that occurs as aresult ofexperience. Learning occurs mostrapidly on a schedule of continuous reinforcement. However it is fairly easy to extinguish…switching to variable reinforcement after the desired behavior has beenreachedprevents extinction.

CLASSICALCONDITIONING

If aneutral stimulus (a stimulus that at first elicits no response) ispaired witha stimulus that already evokes a reflex response, then eventually thenewstimulus will by itself evoke a similar response. (UCS,UCR, CS, CR)

·Each pairing of the CS with the UCSstrengthens theconnection between the CS and CR.

·Timing is important.Usually the strongest and fastest conditioning occurs when theCS ispresented about ½ to one second before the UC.

·EXTINCTION - If the CS is presentedrepeatedly in theabsence of the UCS, the CS-CR bond will weaken and the CR willeventuallydisappear.

·STIMULUS GENERALIZATION - Once conditioninghasoccurred the subject may respond not only to the CS, but to stimulisimilar toit. For example, many of our likes anddislikes of new people and situations come from generalization based onsimilarities to past experiences.

·STIMULUS DISCRIMINATION – opposite ofstimulusgeneralization. SD is the ability todetect differences among stimuli. Thisprocedure is sometimes used to test the ability of nonverbal subjectstodiscriminate among various stimuli, such as color (air puff / eyeblink).

OPERANTCONDITIONING

Theorganism operates on its environment in some way; the behavior in whichit engagesare instrumental to achieving some outcome.

LAW of EFFECT

If aresponse is followed by a pleasant or satisfying consequence, thatresponsewill be strengthened. If a response isfollowed by an unpleasant or negative state of affairs, it will beweakened.

DifferencesBetween Operant and ClassicalConditioning

1)Inclassical conditioning, the conditional behavior (CR) is triggered bytheparticular stimulus (CS) and is therefore called an elicited behavior. Operant behavior is an emitted behavior in thesense that it occurs in a situation containing many stimuli and seems to be initiated by the organism.In a sense the subject chooses when and how torespond.

2)Inclassical conditioning, behavior (CR) is affected by something thatoccurs beforethe behavior (the CS-UCS pairing). Incontrast, the operant response is affected by what happens after thebehavior –that is by its consequences.

PositiveReinforcement

Anystimulus or event that increases the likelihood of the occurrence of abehaviorthat it follows.

Shaping

Shapingis the method of successive approximations.Shaping reinforces the behaviors as they get closer and closerto thedesired behavior.

NegativeReinforcement

NegativeReinforcement is anything that increases a behavior that results in thereinforcers removal.

Punishment

Extinction
If the stimulus is a reinforcer for thebehavior (e.g., parent ignores child/withdraws attention whenchild acts up to get attention)
Response Cost
If the stimulus is not a reinforcer forthe behavior (e.g., parent takes away child's TV privileges when childacts up to get attention)

OPERANTCONDITIONING CONSEQUENCES