Observational Learning 1 Unit 5 Learning Behaviorism Essential

Observational Learning 1

Unit 5: Learning (Behaviorism) • Essential Task 5 -5: Describe the essential characteristics of insight learning, latent learning, and observational learning (vicarious learning, live model, and virtual model)

Key Terms

Learning The process by which experience or practice results in a relatively permanent change in behavior or potential behavior We are here Classical Conditioning The type of learning in which a response naturally elicited by one stimulus becomes to be elicited by a different formally neutral stimulus Operant Conditioning The type of learning in which behaviors are emitted to earn rewards or avoid punishments Social Cognitive Learning Theory The type of learning in which behaviors are learned by observing a model Pavlov and Watson B. F. Skinner Albert Bandura UCS, UCR, CS, CR Reinforcement and Punishment Modeling and Vicarious Learning

Punishment • Goal of punishment is to decrease the occurrence of a behavior • Effective punishment – Should occur as soon as possible after the behavior – Should be sufficient, i. e. , strong enough – Should be certain, occurring every time the behavior does – Should be consistent

Punishment, cont. Although there may be some justification for occasional punishment (Larzelaere & Baumrind, 2002), it usually leads to negative effects. 1. Results in unwanted fears. 2. Conveys no information to the organism. 3. Justifies pain to others. 4. Causes unwanted behaviors to reappear in its absence. 5. Causes aggression towards the agent. 6. Causes one unwanted behavior to appear in place of another.

Intrinsic Motivation: The desire to perform a behavior for its own sake. Extrinsic Motivation: The desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishments.

Outline Essential Task: • Cognitive Learning – insight learning – latent learning • Social Cognitive Learning Theory(observational learning) – vicarious learning/modeling – live model – virtual model

Cognitive Learning • Learning that depends on mental activity that is not directly observable • Involves such processes as attention, expectation, thinking, and memory

Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps • Latent learning is learning that takes place before the subject realizes it and is not immediately reflected in behavior • A cognitive map is latent learning stored as a mental image

Insight and Learning Sets • Insight is when learning seems to occur in a sudden “flash” as elements of a situation come together • Learning sets refer to increasing effectiveness at problem solving through experience, i. e. , organisms “learn how to learn”

• • Social Cognitive Theory/Observational Learning Individuals learn through imitating others who receive rewards and punishments. Learning a behavior and performing it are not the same thing Tenet 1: Response consequences (such as rewards or punishments) influence the likelihood that a person will perform a particular behavior again Tenet 2: Humans can learn by observing others, in addition to learning by participating in an act personally. Learning by observing others is called vicarious learning. The concept of vicarious learning is not one that would be subscribed to by classical behaviorists. Tenet 3: Individuals are most likely to model behavior observed by others they identify with. Identification with others is a function of the degree to which a person is perceived to be similar to one's self, in addition to the degree of emotional attachment that is felt toward an individual.

Rodney Atkins Watching You • What does this song reveal about the nature of human learning? • Video Clip 13

Mirror Neurons Neuroscientists discovered mirror neurons in the brains of animals and humans that are active during observational learning.

Brain Development: Mirror Neurons • Neural firing in response to observation. • Wired to be empathic 15 15

Observational Learning • What is the impact of prosocial modeling and of antisocial modeling? (242 -249) 16

Albert Bandura: Hypothesis = • Believed we learn through observation and imitation • Hypothesized that children would imitate aggressive behavior they observed 17

Bandura’s Methodology • Children watched films of adults beating Bobo dolls • Three groups: aggression-rewarded, aggression-punished, no consequences • Children went into rooms with toys that they were told not to play with 18

Bobo Doll Experiment

Bandura’s Results EFFECT OF OBSERVED CONSEQUENCE ON IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR • Children in the aggression-punished group expressed the fewest aggressive behaviors toward the Bobo dolls • Children in the other two groups expressed an equal number of aggressive behaviors and were more aggressive than children in the aggression-punished group 20

Bandura’s Experiment, continued + Viewing aggressive behavior = Rewards for imitation Aggressive behavior • Children promised rewards for imitating the adult in the film • Now, all three groups were equally aggressive • Children had learned the aggressive behavior from the film, but those who saw the adults being punished were less likely to act aggressively 21

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory • Relates to effects of violence and other images on TV and in the movies • Children imitate good and neutral behaviors as well as bad ones 22

Learning by Observing • The likelihood of acting on vicarious learning changes when we see the consequences of other people’s behavior • Vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment affects the willingness of people to perform behaviors they learned by watching others

Live and Virtual Models Virtual Model Live Model

Biological Predispositions Pavlov and Watson believed that laws of learning were similar for all animals. Therefore, a pigeon and a person do not differ in their learning. However, behaviorists later suggested that learning is constrained by an animal’s biology. Each species’ predispositions prepare it to learn the associations that enhance its survival.

Biological Predisposition Photo: Bob Bailey Biological constraints predispose organisms to learn associations that are naturally adaptive. Breland (1961) showed that animals drift towards their biologically predisposed instinctive behaviors. Marian Breland Bailey

Learned Helplessness • Learned helplessness is a mental state that arises in an organism that believes punishment is inescapable. • The organism stops trying even when success can be obtained.

Learned Helplessness • an animal is repeatedly exposed to an aversive stimulus which it cannot escape. Eventually, the animal stops trying to avoid the stimulus and behaves as if it is helpless to change the situation. When opportunities to escape become available, learned helplessness means the animal does not take any action.

Even when they can be successful, they won’ try.

Behavioral Change Using Biofeedback • Biofeedback is an operant technique that teaches people to gain voluntary control over bodily processes like heart rate and blood pressure • When used to control brain activity it is called neurofeedback