Conditioning
and
Learning Theory
What is Learning?
Definition: a relatively permanent change in behavior
or knowledge that occurs as a result of an
experience
Difference between Learning & Performance:
• Performance is an exhibited behavior
• Learning can be inferred from performance;
but not an accurate measure of learning
Learning Theory
Learning occurs when the following are present:
• Stimulus:
-a feature in the environment that is detected
by an organism & produces a reaction
- Example a loud noise heard by a baby
• Response:
- an observable reaction to a stimulus
- Example the bay begins to cry
Stimulus
Response
Learning Theory
Habituation: learned behavior when an individual
does not respond to a stimulus
• “tuning out” to non-essential stimulus to focus
attention to things that demand attention
Example You “spritz” on some perfume in the morning
before you leave for work. After a short period of time, you no
longer notice the scent of your own perfume. A co-worker pops
by your office for a quick chat and comments that she really
like your perfume. Because you have habituated to the scent,
you no longer notice it. Your co-worker, who is encountering
the scent for the first time, notices it right away
Learning Theory
Types of Learning:
• Trial and Error (doing something over and over
again until you get it right)
• Observational (watching as someone else showed
you or modeled how to do it)
• Rote Learning (sheer memorization)
• Cognitive (retaining info via differentiated
techniques i.e. touching, listening,
experiencing)
• Classical Conditioning (learning by association)
• Operant Conditioning (learning from consequences)
Classical Conditioning
Definition: learning that takes place when an originally
neutral stimulus comes to produce a
conditioned response because of its
association with an unconditioned stimulus
Terminology & Examples
Neutral Stimulus:
• stimulus that doesn’t produce an automatic response
• a neutral stimulus turns into a conditioned stimulus.
• Example ringing a bell and the dog does nothing
Terminology & Examples
Unconditioned Stimulus:
• a stimulus that causes
a response
Unconditioned Response:
• is automatic
• automatic response to
• Example  the food
the unconditioned
stimulus
• Example  the dog salivates
Terminology & Examples
Conditioned Stimulus:
• a stimulus that has
come to elicit a
conditioned response
•Example  the bell rings after
conditioning
Conditioned Response:
• learned response to
a stimulus that was
previously neutral
• Example  the dog salivates
Pavlov’s Dogs
Ian Pavlov:
• Russian psychologist (1849-1936)
• wanted to learn about learning with
emphasis on nervous system and
digestion
• performed experiment with dogs in
harness and collecting of saliva
The dogs
salivating in
response to
the bell
demonstrate
d classical
conditioning
Types of Classical Conditioning
Task Use your textbook to complete the chart below.
Type
Taste Aversion
Extinction
Spontaneous
Recovery
Generalization
Discrimination
Definition
Example
Applications of Classical
Conditioning
- can help people overcome fears of objects & situations
Methods:
* Flooding: a person is exposed
to stimulus until fear responses
are stopped
* Systematic Discrimination:
gradual exposal to stimulus
while relaxed until fear
responses stopped
* Counterconditioning: a pleasant
stimulus is paired with a fearful
one to counter the fear
Operant Conditioning
Definition: a method of learning that occurs through
rewards and punishments for behavior
Developed by B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• Behavioral psychologist
• examined external causes of behavior
• referred to any active behavior that
operates on the environment to
generate consequences as “Operant”
• his theory explains how we acquire
learned behaviors
Skinner Box
• B.F. Skinner studied the effects of
reinforcement on behavior.
•Studied rats and pigeons
because their simple brains &
behaviors give us a clear view
of conditioned behaviors
• Would place Pigeons in a
“Skinner Box” where they had
to complete a simple task in
order to receive the reinforcement.
Instrumental Learning
Operant Conditioning is sometimes referred to
as “Instrumental Learning”
• organisms behavior is instrumental in
producing an environmental change that in
turns affects the organisms behavior
Developed by Edward Thorndike (1874-1949)
• American psychologist
• developed the law of effect
Law of Effect:
behaviors are encouraged when they are followed by
rewarding consequences and discouraged when they
are followed by punishing consequences
Based on:
Reinforcement: process by which stimulus increases the
chances that a behavior will occur again
Two Types:
Positive Reinforcement:
certain behavior increases
as a result of the
presentation of something
pleasant after the behavior
Example
If a child is given praise for
picking up a toy the child will
then be more likely to pick up
the toy in the future
Negative Reinforcement:
behavior increases as the
result of removing
something unpleasant after
the behavior
Example
If a child takes out the garbage
and her mother stops nagging
the child then the more likely
the child will take out the
garbage in the future
Reinforcers:
Definition: stimulus that encourages a behavior to
occur again
Two Types:
Primary Reinforcers:
Secondary Reinforcers:
biologically relevant stimuli
stimuli that increase the
that increase probability of
probability of response due
behavior without learning
to association with primary
reinforcer
Example
Example
Food, Water, Warmth
Money because its needed
to purchase food and water
Reinforcers:
Can also be Positive or Negative
Two Types:
Postive Reinforcers:
encouraging stimuli that
increase likelihood of a
behavior when they are
presented
Negative Reinforcers: an
unpleasant stimuli that
increases the likelihood of a
behavior once its removed
Example
Example
- Social Approval
- Candy
-Trophy/Award
- Discomfort
- Fear
- Social Disapproval
Reward vs. Punishment
Reward: like positive reinforcers,
increase the likelihood of a
desired behavior (can be used
Punishment: differ from
interchangeably)
negative reinforcers due to
being unwanted events that
decrease the likelihood of
behavior they follow
• Positive Punishment: presenting a stimulus that leads to
a lowered likelihood for a response to occur in future
• Negative Punishment – removing a stimulus that leads
to a lowered likelihood for a response to occur in the
future
Schedule of Reinforcement
Definition: the factors in determining how effective
reinforcement will be on behavior
Task Use your textbook to complete the chart below.
Type
Continuous
Partial
Fixed Ratio
Variable Ratio
Fixed Interval
Variable Interval
Definition
Example
Applications
Task Use your textbook to research the types below.
Shaping:
• Explanation
• Example
Programmed Learning
• Explanation
• Example
Classroom Management
• Explanation
• Example
Summary of Conditioning
Cognitive Factors of Learning
Two Kinds:
• Latent Learning  learning that is NOT a result of
effort or reinforcement and remains dormant and
only takes place when it is needed
• Observational Learning learning by observing and
imitating others
Sometimes we watch others & see what happens…
- Older siblings, peers, & parents
- Explicit rewards & punishments
- Also: natural rewards & punishments
Observational Learning
Albert Bandura:
• born 1925 - (still alive)
•Cognitive Psychologist
• founder of social learning theory
(Observational Learning)
• believed people learn by 
observing, imitating, & modeling
Bobo Doll Experiment:
• conducted in 1961 and 1963
• measured the children's behavior after
seeing the model get rewarded, get
punished, or experience no consequence
for beating up the Bobo doll
• can apply to video games & violence
Observational Learning
2 stages of observational learning
- Acquisition
Behavior is learned & then remains
“latent” until needed
- Performance
4 steps of observational learning:
-Attention: must be paid to features of
another's actions
-Retention: behaviors must be remembered in
order to be carried out
-Reproduction: must be able to carry out the
observed behavior
-Motivation: must be a reason for carrying out
the behavior