Psychology of Learning
EXP4404
Chapter 1: Learning to Change
Dr. Steve
Topics Covered
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Natural Selection
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Mutations
Reflexes
Sensitization vs. Habituation
Modal Action Patterns
Releasers
General Behavior Traits
Limits of Natural Selection
Learning
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Nature/Nurture
Learning/Instinct
Natural Selection
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Natural Selection
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Adaptive forms of behavior include:
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Reflexes
Modal Action Patterns
General Behavior Traits
Natural Selection
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Characteristics “selected” for may eventually
become maladaptive.
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Sickle-shaped red blood cells in Africans
Wings on Walking Stick”
Coloration of Peppered Moths
Natural Selection
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Mutations
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If occurs in reproductive cells may be passed on to
offspring
Most are not adaptive and die out with generation
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2-headed turtle
White alligator
8-legged frogs
Natural Selection
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Reflexes
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Simple nervous reactions which can be modified in
that they may be triggered by different stimuli
through learning.
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Grasping
Rooting
Sucking
Eye blink
Pupillary
Vomit
Patellar
Reflex Arc
Natural Selection
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Reflexes
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Sensitization
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Buzzing mosquito
Gun fire
Habituation
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Touching sea anemone
Wet pull-up diaper
Strong cologne
Natural Selection
Sensitization vs. Habituation
Habituation
Sensitization
1. Stimulus Intensity
Weak: increased
likelihood
Strong: Increased
likelihood
2. Timing of Stimulus
Presentation
More rapid, more
effective (however, longer
More rapid, more
effective
3. Stimulus Variation
Less variation, more
effective (more
More variation, more
effective (fewer trials
4. Presence of
Extraneous Stimuli
Interferes with
Interferes with
5. Biological
Usefulness
Less likely to
habituate
More likely to sensitize
it is lead to longer lasting
habituation)
predictable)
req’d, less predictable)
Natural Selection
Sensitization vs. Habituation
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Sensitize or Habituate?
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Screaming baby in movie theater?
Communication in married couples?
Florida State war chant?
Watch chime?
Florida heat and humidity?
Tabasco sauce?
State Troopers on I-10?
Natural Selection
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Modal Action Patterns
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AKA: Fixed action patterns, species-specific behavior,
species-typical behavior, instincts
Complex behavior, difficult to change
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Cat arches back, hisses, and flicks tail (fend off enemies)
Migration of geese in V-formation (cope with elements)
Woodpeckers peck holes in trees (procure food)
Wide receiver does end zone dance (show off) 
Natural Selection
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Releasers
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Male stickleback fish attacks red underbelly
If you were a stickleback
fish, which object would
you attack?
Natural Selection
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General Behavior Traits
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More variable than Modal Action Patterns
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Behavior traits may be genetically linked to physical
characteristics so that when one is selected, so is the
other
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Levels of introversion, aggression, anxiety, general
activity, and sexual practices
Dog breeding – dogs bred for certain physical traits
often have similar temperament (e.g., small nippy dogs)
Traits adaptive at one time, may become maladaptive
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Agoraphobia protected gatherers from predators
Limits of Natural Selection
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Natural selection cannot aid survival when
environment changes abruptly
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Asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction
Endangered polar bears due to global warming
Introduction of new species into ecosystems (iguana)
Overhunting/fishing (buffalo, passenger pigeon)
Man-made challenges (armadillo’s jump when
approached)
Learning
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Learning defined as:
Learning
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Behavior
Experience
Stimuli
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Humans cannot detect x-rays; bees can
Humans cannot detect sounds higher than 20,000 Hz; dogs
can
Response
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Glandular secretions – stomach acid, tears, saliva
Muscle actions – walking, talking, gestures
Learning
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Why is the ability to learn “selected” for?
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It allows organisms to adapt to abruptly changing
environments (whereas other changes do not)
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Taste aversions – develop a distaste for something that
makes you sick (e.g., certain BBQ restaurant)
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Batesian mimicry – Survival based on mimicking other
organisms. Birds learn to avoid eating viceroy butterflies
because they look like the poisonous and foul tasting
monarch (this taste aversion benefits both bird and
viceroy)
Learning
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Story of the Bombardier Beetle vs. the Mouse
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Learning or MAP (instinct)?
Characteristic of learning
1. Involves change in behavior?
2. Occurs because of experience?
3. Leads to different behaviors
depending on circumstances?
Beetle
Y/N
Mouse
Y/N
Learning
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Nature vs. Nurture, or Nature via Nurture?
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Which is more important in changing behavior?
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Harlow – monkeys raised in isolation did not learn
mating skills.
Kuo – 45% of cats raised without mothers did not learn
how to hunt.
Hart & Risley – Children with parents that talked to them
more, later scored higher on tests of intelligence.
Learning
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Learning or Instinct?
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Eaglet flies for the first time?
Faun runs from predator?
Human baby walks?
Human baby swims?
Owlet hunts for first time?
Robin builds nest for first time?
Songbird sings?
Puppy digs holes in yard?
Kitten uses litter box?
Toddler uses potty?