PSY 420 Personality Theories

Behavioral Approaches: Learning Theory

Learning- a relatively permanent change in behavior

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Philosophical Position of Traditional Behaviorists

1. behavior is determined solely by external stimuli

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2. rejected the importance of mental operations or feelings

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Types of Learning

1. classical conditioning

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2. operant conditioning

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3. observational learning

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Classical Conditioning- a procedure in which a neutral stimulus (e.g., a bell or buzzer) is paired

with a stimulus (food) that produces a natural response (e.g, salivation)

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Pavlov's Study

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stimulus- something that stimulates or arouses a person into action of any form

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)- the stimulus that elicits a response without conditioning or

training

unconditioned response (UCR)- the automatic, or unlearned, reaction to the unconditioned

stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)- the neutral stimulus that is paired with the UCS

conditioned response (CR)- the response that occurs as a result of training

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Acquisition- the process of acquiring or building up a connection between a CS and the CR

(through pairing the CS with the UCS)

reinforcement

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Amount ......|

of................|

Salivation.....|

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Trials

Explanations of the Conditioned Response

1. behavioral viewpoint

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2. cognitive viewpoint

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generalization

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gradient of generalization

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Amount ......|

of............... |

Salivation... |

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Trials

discrimination- distinguishing between the original stimulus and stimuli that are very different

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extinction- the process of weakening the association between the CS and the CR

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Amount ......|

of ...............|

Salivation ....|

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Trials

Operant Conditioning

respondent behavior

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operant behavior- the action taken by an organism to produce a desired effect

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reinforcer

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positive reinforcer

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negative reinforcer

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punishment

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Schedules of Reinforcement

continuous reinforcement

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partial (intermittent) reinforcement

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relationship to extinction