2. How do we learn behavior?
Learning: a relatively permanent change in behavior
brought about by experience.
One way we learn behavior is
through classical conditioning:
when a neutral stimulus (like a
bell) brings about a reaction
that is not naturally related to
that stimulus (like drooling)
because the two have been
paired together and associated
with each other in the brain.
3. 1. Before Conditioning 2. Before Conditioning
3. During Conditioning 4. After Conditioning
Neutral
Stimulus
No notable
response.
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Salivation
(Unconditioned
Response)
Salivation
(Unconditioned
Response)
Salivation
(Conditioned
Response)
Conditioned
Stimulus
4. The “Little Albert Experiment”
In the 1920s, John B.Watson classically conditioned a
human baby to experience fear at the sight of white rats,
and as a result of stimulus generalization, at the sight of
other small furry animals. He achieved this by loudly
banging a hammer every time Albert touched the animal.
5. Operant Conditioning
A method of learning that occurs through reinforcements
and punishments for behavior. We learn to perform
certain behaviors more often because they result in
rewards, and learn to avoid other behaviors because they
result in punishment or adverse consequences.
7. Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning
Occurs when we associate
something formerly neutral with
something that produces a
natural reaction.
Example: Albert feels fear when he
pets a rabbit because he associates
the rabbit with a painful noise.
Occurs when we make
conscious choices to behave
in a certain way based on the
association of our behaviors
with positive or negative
consequences.
Example: Emily hides from her
grandma’s cat because the cat
usually bites her feet.
+ =
vs.
8. Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning
Looks Like:
Natural bodily reactions &
emotions that we can’t control
Must involve a neutral stimulus
becoming a conditioned stimulus!
With classical conditioning, the
response always comes after the
conditioned stimulus.
Looks Like:
Behavioral choices that we
make: actions
Behavior is not associated with a
conditioned stimulus. Behavior is
based on past experiences that
either encourage us to repeat a
certain behavior, or discourage us.
vs.
Sight of pills (neutral stimulus)
+
Pill gives you a
stomach ache
=
Sight of pills becomes a
conditioned stimulus that
makes you feel sick.
9. Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement: results that make us want to
repeat a behavior.
Punishment: results that make us NOT want to
repeat a behavior again.
Studied hard?
Good grades are
a reinforcement.
Didn’t study?
Bad grades are
a punishment.
10. Negative Reinforcement
Reinforcement = Do it again!
Negative = Taking something (bad) away
Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement = Do it again!
Positive = Adding something (good)
Positive Punishment
Punishment = Don’t do it again!
Positive = Adding something (bad)
Negative Punishment
Punishment = Don’t do it again!
Negative = Taking something (good) away
11. “Positive”
Positive punishment and reinforcement are easier to remember.
Positive does not mean “good” - it means something is added
to your environment.
12. “Negative”
Negative punishment and reinforcement are more
challenging to understand because the term “negative
reinforcement” is used outside of Psychology to mean the
opposite of “positive reinforcement.”
In Psychology,“negative” does not mean “bad”: it means
something is removed from your environment. If something
good is removed, it will make you sad and cause you to not
want to repeat the behavior that led to its removal. If
something bad is removed, it will make you happy, causing
you to want to repeat the behavior.
13. The “Which Type of
Operant Conditioning Is
It?” Game!
Directions:
For each example, decide what behavior
is being conditioned, or modified.
Next, decide the method being used:
positive/negative reinforcement or
punishment.
14. The “Which Type of
Operant Conditioning Is
It?” Game!
If you write down all of your answers on a
document and email them to me after the
game. (Number your document 1-12). If you
get one wrong, you must type the correct
answer next to your wrong one. If you do
these things, you will get a piece of candy!
15. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
You use a shock
collar on your dog
when it jumps on
people or barks
at them.
16. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
Your boss
removes all the
coffee machines
from the office
until your team
increases sales.
17. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
You give your
dog a treat for
performing a
trick.
18. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
Your mom says
you can’t go on
vacation with
your friends for
spring break
because you got
in trouble at
school.
19. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
Your teacher scolds
you when you
forget to bring
your textbook to
class.
20. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
Your teacher
gives out candy
to students who
participate the
most.
21. Which type of operant conditioning is it?
You are stopped at a light and do not notice it has
turned green yet. The car behind you blasts its car horn
at you, and only stops when you begin to drive forward.
