Classical Vs. Operant Conditioning

Learning

Thoughts on Learning

"Learning is not compulsory. Neither is survival."

- W. Edwards Demming

"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."

- B.F. Skinner

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

- Pablo Picasso

What is Learning?

A relatively permanent change in behavior

that results from experience

Types of Learning

* Classical conditioning

* Operant conditioning

* Cognitive and social learning

Classical Conditioning: Examples

* Sound of a dentist's drill: sweaty palms

* Smell of mom's perfume: smiling

* Sight of certain restaurant: nausea

* Noise of a can opener: cat comes running

* Smell of a hospital: weakened immunity

Classical Conditioning

* Discovered (accidentally) by Ivan Pavlov

Pavlov's Observation

* Studied digestion in dogs

Pavlov's Experiment: Phase 1

* Food (US): salivation (UR)

- Reflexive response

* Tone (CS): nothing (CR)

Pavlov's Experiment: Phase 2

* CS is repeatedly paired with the US

- A tone is sounded before the food is presented

Pavlov's Experiment: Phase 3

* Eventually, the CS elicits a new CR

- Hearing the tone by itself causes salivation

Classical Conditioning:

Conditioned Emotional Response

* Avoidance learning

* Conditioned phobias

- Little Albert

Classical Conditioning

* Extinction

* Spontaneous recovery

Classical Conditioning

* Stimulus generalization

* Stimulus discrimination

Higher Order Conditioning

* Pair CS1 with a new CS2

* CS2: CR

* But, CR will be weaker

Classical Conditioning Applied

* Drug overdoses

* Smoking: environmental cues

* Systematic desensitization

* Advertising: sex appeal

* Taste aversion

* Conditioning and the immune system

Types of Learning

* Classical Conditioning

* Operant Conditioning

* Cognitive and Social Learning

Operant Conditioning: Examples

* Tantrums are punished: fewer tantrums

* Tantrums bring attention: more tantrums

* Slot machine pays out: gamble more

* Reward dog for sitting: dog is likely to sit

Operant Conditioning

* Thorndike's puzzle box

- Law of Effect: actions that have positive outcomes are likely repeated

* Skinner box

Operant Conditioning: Principles

* Stimulus-Response

* Reinforcement

- Positive reinforcement

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