Classical conditioning

happens when we learn an involuntary (reflex) response to a stimulus that does NOT naturally cause that reflex response.

• stimulus that naturally triggers a response without having to be learned

§         Food (causes salivation)

• naturally occurring, involuntary reaction that needs no training

§         Salivation (to food)

   Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

is learned

o       An originally neutral stimulus is repeatedly associated with a UCS (which triggers what?)

o       Organism learns that the CS now predicts the UCS

·        Conditioned Response (CR) is learned (acquisition)

o       Conditioned reflex response

o       Organism responds to the learned CS just as it would to a natural UCS

Operant Conditioning

ning of voluntary behaviors through the effects of the consequences they cause

o       We learn to ASSOCIATE a certain response (voluntary behavior) with its consequence

§         NOTE: here, “response” means voluntary action (not reflex)

Law of Effect (Thorndike’s Law)

 We are more likely to repeat behaviors that are followed by pleasantconsequences, and less likely to repeat behaviors that are followed by unpleasantconsequences

 Positive reinforcement (+)

the reinforcement of a response by the addition or gain of a pleasant event.

  Negative reinforcement (-)

the reinforcement of a response by the subtraction or elimination of an unpleasant event.

        Positive Punishment (+)

the punishment of a response by the application of an unpleasant stimulus

  Negative Punishment  (-)

·        the punishment of a response by the removal of a pleasant stimulus.

Punishment is a powerful controller of unwanted behavior, but it has drawbacks

·        Are spanked children at greater risk for aggression, depression, low self-esteem?

·        Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten

·        The punished subject may just discriminate where they can get away with the behavior

·        Radar detectors, swearing

How to Make Punishment More Effective

·        Punishment should immediately follow the behavior it is meant to punish.

·        Punishment should be consistent.

·        Punishment of the wrong behavior should be paired, whenever possible, with reinforcement of the right behavior.