The Behaviorist Perspective Learning Theory What is the

The Behaviorist Perspective Learning Theory

What is the Behaviorist Perspective? l l There has been, since the beginning of Professional Psychology, and attempt to make the study of psychology scientific. Attempts to study and research human subjectivity presented many research methods problems…thus researchers sought to resolve those issues by focusing on human behavior.

The Behavioral Perspective l For Behaviorist, the unit of study was the particular behavior, not thoughts nor feelings. l How do we learn behaviors?

Three Theories on Learning behavior l Classical Conditioning l Operant Conditioning l Observational Learning (modeling).

Classical Conditioning l l l Ivan Pavlov – Russian Psychologist Involuntary Learning by association. A stimulus – response model

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning l Unconditioned stimulus – a natural stimulus, such as food. l Unconditioned response – such as salivating to the sight of food

Classical Condition l Neutral Stimulus – such a bell l Associate the bell with the food, (ring bell present food)

Classical Conditioning l Conditioned stimulus – the bell l Conditioned response – salivating to the sound of the bell.

Classical Conditioning l Acquisition – acquiring, that is, learning a new behavior, such as salivating to the sound of the bell.

Classical Condition l Generalization – responding to different but similar stimuli in the same manner. l For example, being conditioned to the sound of a bell tone A, then responding to a bell with tone B in the same manner.

Classical Conditioning l Discrimination – recognizing, distinguishing and responding similar but different stimuli differently. l For example salivating to the sound of bell A but not the sound of bell B or bell C.

Classical Conditioning l Extinction – when a conditioned response disappears. l Spontaneous recovery – when a conditioned response that became extinct, suddenly returns.

Classical Conditioning l Provide some examples of classical conditioning

Operant Conditioning l l l Developed by B. F. Skinner Operant conditioning is shaping voluntary behavior through a system of rewards and punishment. Shaping is produced by rewarding successive approximations of the behavior you want.

Operant Conditioning l Successive approximations are reinforced by rewards. l Reinforcement is anything that increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

Operant Conditioning l Positive reinforcement – anything that is experienced as positive: affection, food, money, good grades. l Negative reinforcement – unpleasant or unwanted reinforcement that increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

Observational Learning l Also known as Modeling. Learning by observation and imitation. l Developed by Albert Bandura. l