# Learning ## Force of Nature - Artificial vs. Natural Selection - _Eugenics_ - Twin Studies - Mono/Di zygotic twins - Identical/Fraternal twins - Contribution of gene ## Pavlov and Classical Conditioning - Pavlov's dog, Classical Conditioning experiments - Unconditioned Response = occurs naturally and does not need to be learned - Neutral stimulus = does not elicit a natural or automatic response ![[pavlov-dog-experiment.png]] ![[pavlov-dog-data.png]] ## Learning - John Locke and _Tabula Rasa_ = blank slates - Innate Behavior - Tonic neck reflex - Grasp reflex - Step reflex - Crawl reflex - Imprinting for geese, who treat the first living thing they see as their mother - Habituation = unlearn a reflex - Pairing products with objects that you already want ## Learning by Consequence - [_Operant Conditioning_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning) (or _Instrumental Conditioning_) by B. F. Skinner | Stimulus | Desired | Undesired | | :------: | :--------------------: | :--------------------: | | Applied | Positive Reinforcement | Punishment | | Removed | Response Cost | Negative Reinforcement | - Three Terms Contingency/Contingent Conditioning Experiment: all happens unconsciously - Discriminative Stimulus = stimulus that cues reward _contingency_ (rewards occur and only occur after the stimulus) ```mermaid graph LR A["Discriminative<br>Stimulus (Sd)"] --> B["Reponse (R)"] --> C["Reinforcing<br>Stimulus (Sr+)"] ``` - Best Formula for [[parent-child-relationship|raising children]] - Positively reinforce desired behaviors - Use response cost for undesired behaviors - Removing things positive is less "scarring" psychologically - Removing positive things and giving love simultaneously is possible - Skinner's belief: Consciousness is Epiphenomenon - We are determined by the reward and punishment history. - Consciousness is NOT always there, it's not causal - "I did not direct my life. I didn’t design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That’s what life is." ## How to Flirt ![[operant-conditioning-chamber.png]] - Operant Conditioning Chamber / Skinner's Box - Press the lever -> food pellet - Press the lever + green light -> food pellet - Press the lever for exactly 5 times? - Press the lever for a variable number of times? -> in such case, the mouse continues on pressing the lever! - ==Variable Ratio is more immune to Extinction== ![[fixed-vs-variable-reinforcement.png]] ## Conditioned Superstition - Non-Contingent Conditioning Experiment by Skinner - Pallet drops in the box randomly, no matter how the pigeons behave - Pigeons will then develop extreme, "superstitious" behaviors - Different pigeons developed different ritualistic behaviors. Some spun, some bend the heads up, some circle around. ![[skinner-and-his-pigeon.png]] ## Passing the Test - [[consciousness|Consciousness]] has no role in psychology? - Language allows the transmission of knowledge and experience, even across time and space! Is this consciousness? - [[sensation-perception-attention-and-awareness#Self Awareness|Mirror Test]]: maybe chimpanzees just learned to "control" the character in the mirror, instead of recognizing the mirrored image as themselves? - _Project Nim_, Nim Chimsky, a great ape who's really capable of sign language! and pictograms - What behavior do you show that ==convince people they do have consciousness==? ## Observational Learning - Mirror Neurons -> Sending signals to the [[brain-structure#Parietal Lobe|motor cortex]] to mimic what you see - Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment - "Modeling" - Children that watched violent videos will treat the Bobo doll violently. - They will used other "weapons" that did not appear in the video! ![[bandura-bobo-doll-experiment.png]] - However, can people distinguish fantasy and reality? Most actually can.