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Three Major Types of Learning

This document summarizes three major types of learning: 1) Learning through association (classical conditioning), where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a response; 2) Learning through consequences (operant conditioning), where behavior is affected by its consequences; and 3) Learning through observation (modeling), where behavior is learned by observing others. It then provides more details on classical and operant conditioning, including their key differences and reinforcement techniques used in operant conditioning like positive reinforcement, shaping, and negative reinforcement.

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43 views

Three Major Types of Learning

This document summarizes three major types of learning: 1) Learning through association (classical conditioning), where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a response; 2) Learning through consequences (operant conditioning), where behavior is affected by its consequences; and 3) Learning through observation (modeling), where behavior is learned by observing others. It then provides more details on classical and operant conditioning, including their key differences and reinforcement techniques used in operant conditioning like positive reinforcement, shaping, and negative reinforcement.

Uploaded by

alexnavin.study
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Three Major Types of Learning

1) Learning through association - Classical Conditioning


2) Learning through consequences – Operant Conditioning
3) Learning through observation – Modeling/Observational Learning

LEARNING
Learning is a change in behavior or in potential behavior that occurs as a result of
experience. Learning occurs most rapidly on a schedule of continuous reinforcement.
However it is fairly easy to extinguish… switching to variable reinforcement after the
desired behavior has been reached prevents extinction.

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
If a neutral stimulus (a stimulus that at first elicits no response) is paired with a stimulus
that already evokes a reflex response, then eventually the new stimulus will by itself
evoke a similar response. (UCS, UCR, CS, CR)

· Each pairing of the CS with the UCS strengthens the connection between the CS
and CR.
· Timing is important. Usually the strongest and fastest conditioning occurs when
the CS is presented about ½ to one second before the UC.
· EXTINCTION - If the CS is presented repeatedly in the absence of the UCS, the
CS-CR bond will weaken and the CR will eventually disappear.
· STIMULUS GENERALIZATION - Once conditioning has occurred the subject
may respond not only to the CS, but to stimuli similar to it. For example, many of our
likes and dislikes of new people and situations come from generalization based on
similarities to past experiences.
· STIMULUS DISCRIMINATION – opposite of stimulus generalization. SD is the
ability to detect differences among stimuli. This procedure is sometimes used to test
the ability of nonverbal subjects to discriminate among various stimuli, such as color
(air puff / eye blink).

OPERANT CONDITIONING
The organism operates on its environment in some way; the behavior in which it engages
are instrumental to achieving some outcome.

LAW of EFFECT
If a response is followed by a pleasant or satisfying consequence, that response will be
strengthened. If a response is followed by an unpleasant or negative state of affairs, it
will be weakened.

Differences Between Operant and Classical Conditioning


1) In classical conditioning, the conditional behavior (CR) is triggered by the
particular stimulus (CS) and is therefore called an elicited behavior. Operant
behavior is an emitted behavior in the sense 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 to respond.

2) In classical conditioning, behavior (CR) is affected by something that occurs


before the behavior (the CS-UCS pairing). In contrast, the operant response is
affected by what happens after the behavior – that is by its consequences.

Positive Reinforcement
Any stimulus or event that increases the likelihood of the occurrence of a behavior that it
follows.

Shaping
Shaping is the method of successive approximations. Shaping reinforces the behaviors
as they get closer and closer to the desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement
Negative Reinforcement is anything that increases a behavior that results in the
reinforcers removal.

Punishment
Any consequence that decreases the future occurrence of a behavior that produces it.

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