Behaviorism!
Principles of Behaviorism
O Behaviorists state that the following assumptions are
true of all behavior:
1. All behavior is a response to an environmental stimuli
2. The mind is a black box.
O We cannot scientifically study internal mental processes
like emotion and memory!
3. People are born as a blank slate.
O We have only a handful of innate responses, almost all
behavior is learned.
4. Processes of learning are common to all species.
O We can study rats and pigeons and dogs to understand
people!
All behavior is a response to a
stimulus…
O Conditioning: Learning by making a connection
between two events (associative learning)
O Classical Conditioning: automatic response learned by
associating two stimuli that are frequently paired.
O Operant Conditioning: increasing or decreasing a specific
behavior based on consequences (rewards or
punishments)
O Observational Learning: we learn by watching people in
our environment and imitate the behavior.
Classical Conditioning
O Pavlov and his dogs!
O The dog saw food when a bell was rung multiple times.
O The dog learned to EXPECT food after hearing a bell!
O Measured by salivation
UCS  UCR
NS No Response
NS + UCS  UCR
CS  CR
O Classical Conditioning refers to cases with REFLEX
RESPONSES, not choices.
Classical Conditioning
O Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)- stimuli that
O
O
O
O
automatically produces a reaction without prior learning
Unconditioned Response (UCR)- an unlearned reaction
that is automatically elicited by the UCS
Neutral Stimulus (NS)- elicits NO response
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)- previously NS that elicits a
conditioned response after being paired with the UCS
repeatedly.
Conditioned Response (CR)- a learned response to the
CS that occurs after the CS and UCS have been paired
together frequently.
Let’s get a volunteer!!
SPILL, CAN, COAT, BEEN, HAIR, LIE, CAN, RED, TREE, CHAIR,
CAN, FLOOR, PLANE, DOG, CAN, TOOK, BILL, TIE, SHOE, ROCK,
CAN, TURN, POKE, NECK, TOOTH, CAN, PAST, TRUST, CAT, FLAG,
PEN, GUM, CAN, TRUE, BREAD, CAN, GLASS, BRUSH, PIKE,
THE, SPEAK, CAN, BEAR, KID, TURN, CAN, TAKE, DRAW, PAN,
HAVE, CAN, SINK, DOOR, SHIRT, PEAR, COLD, CAN, CAP, FAST,
BLUE, DESK, CAN, CAR, DOG, CAN, FAST, KNEE, FROM, TAKE,
ARM, CAN, CHAIR, SPILL, BACK, THROW, MILK, PIKE, SPEAK,
CAN, BEAR, KID, LAUGH, TURN, CAN, TAKE, DRAW, PAN, HAVE,
CAN, SINK, DOOR, PEAR, COLD, CAN, GONE, FAST, BLUE,
DESK, CAN, CAR, DOG, FAST, KNEE, FROM, FOOT, TAKE, BACK,
CAN, ARM, PLANE, CAN, COAT, WILL, HAIR, LIE, CAN, RED,
LAND, CHAIR, CAN, FLOOR, PLANE, DOG, CAN, TOOK, BILL, TIE,
SHOE, CAN, ROCK, TURN, POKE, NECK, SAT, CAN, PAST, FUN,
CAT, FLAT, GUM, CAN, BOOT, FOR, BUN, FILL, CAN, BET, PET
Classical Conditioning
O Discrimination: When we respond differently to two
similar stimuli in different situations.
O Generalization: when you have the same response to
two stimuli that are not identical.
O Extinction: the eventual disappearance of a learned or
conditioned response after it is no longer paired with
the unconditioned stimulus-response chain.
O Spontaneous Recovery: the reemergence of a
conditioned response which has been previously
extinguished.
The Office
O While watching this clip, identify the:
UCS  UCR
NS No Response
NS + UCS  UCR
CS  CR
Instructions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Tell your subject to sit and relax for 2 minutes. Time 2
minutes.
Take your subject’s pulse for 10 seconds, multiply by six
and record this as “resting pulse.”
Tell your subject you are going to clap 5 times after which
he/she is to get up and do jumping jacks for 30 seconds.
Take your subject’s pulse again and record it as Trial #1.
Repeat this procedure 8 times in a row, recording data after
each time.
Have your subject sit and relax until his/her pulse returns to
the initial resting pulse rate. (check pulse every minute).
Clap your hands five times and take your subject’s pulse
(without doing jumping jacks).
Keep track!
Resting Trials- 60 second pulse after jumping jacks
Pulse
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Resting
Pulse
Average our results:
Avg. Resting Pulse Rate (A)
Group 1
Group 2
All
Subject
s (class
average
)
Avg. Trial Pulse
Rate (B)
Average Final
(clap only) Pulse
Rate (C)
Write down how this showed
Classical Conditioning!
O Identify the process:
UCS  UCR
NS No Response
NS + UCS  UCR
CS  CR