Behavioral Learning Theories PDF

Behavioral Learning Theories Dr. Eman Arafa Badr Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University 2nd semester 2023-2024 Child Mental Health Course  Introduction learning is often thou...

Behavioral Learning Theories Dr. Eman Arafa Badr Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing, faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University 2nd semester 2023-2024 Child Mental Health Course  Introduction learning is often thought of as a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience. It is influenced by various biological, cultural, social, and emotional variables. What Are Mental Health Theories? a theory is more than a simple guess. It is a “coherent group of propositions formulated to explain a group of facts or phenomena in the natural world and repeatedly confirmed through experiment or observation” (Scientific theory, n.d.).  Several different theories have emerged to explain how people learn. Some of the main theories of learning include: Behavioral learning theory Cognitive learning theory Constructivist learning theory Social learning theory Experiential learning theory  Behavioral Learning Theories During the early part of the twentieth century, many psychologists became increasingly interested in turning psychology into a more scientific endeavor. These psychologists, known as behaviorists, argued that psychology needed to study only things that could be measured and quantified to be more scientific. A few different behavioral theories emerged to explain how and why people behave the way they do. Behavioral theories are centered on the environmental influences on the learning process. Environmental influences include associations, reinforcements, and punishments Learning Through Association Classical conditioning suggests that learning occurs when an association is formed between a previously neutral stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. What Is Classical Conditioning? classical conditioning is a type of unconscious or automatic learning. This learning process creates a conditioned response through associations between an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus. In simple terms, classical conditioning involves placing a neutral stimulus before a naturally occurring reflex.  One of the best-known examples of classical conditioning is Pavlov's classic experiments with dogs. In these experiments, the neutral signal was the sound of a tone and the naturally occurring reflex was salivating in response to food. By associating the neutral stimulus (sound) with the unconditioned stimulus (food), the sound of the tone alone could produce a salivation response. Learning Through Association In experiments conducted by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, a natural stimulus (food) was paired with the sound of a bell. The dogs would naturally salivate in response to food, but after multiple associations, the dogs would salivate to the sound of the bell alone.  Additionally, Behaviorism assumes that all learning occurs through interactions with the environment and that environment shapes behavior. Classical Conditioning Definitions Classical conditioning—also sometimes referred to as Pavlovian conditioning—uses a few different terms to help explain the learning process. Knowing these basics will help you understand classical conditioning. Unconditioned Stimulus An unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus or trigger that leads to an automatic response. Neutral Stimulus A neutral stimulus is a stimulus that doesn't initially trigger a response on its own. Conditioned Stimulus A conditioned stimulus is a stimulus that was once neutral (didn't trigger a response) but now leads to a response. E.g. If you previously didn't pay attention to dogs, but then got bit by one, and now you feel fear every time you see a dog, the dog has become a conditioned stimulus. Unconditioned Response An unconditioned response is an automatic response or a response that occurs without thought when an unconditioned stimulus is present. E.g. If you smell your favorite food and your mouth starts watering, the watering is an unconditioned response. Conditioned Response A conditioned response is a learned response or a response that is created where no response existed before. Going back to the example of being bit by a dog, the fear you experience after the bite is a conditioned response. How Classical Conditioning Works Classical conditioning involves forming an association between two stimuli, resulting in a learned response. There are three basic phases of this process. Phase 1: Before Conditioning The first part of the classical conditioning process requires a naturally occurring stimulus that will automatically elicit a response. Salivating in response to the smell of food is a good example of a naturally occurring stimulus. During this phase of the process, the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) results in an unconditioned response (UCR). Presenting food (the UCS) naturally and automatically triggers a salivation response (the UCR). Phase 2: During Conditioning During the second phase of the classical conditioning process, the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus. As a result of this pairing, an association between the previously neutral stimulus and the UCS is formed. At this point, the once neutral stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus (CS). The subject has now been conditioned to respond to this stimulus. The conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response. Phase 2: During Conditioning In our earlier example, suppose that when you smelled your favorite food, you also heard the sound of a whistle. While the whistle is unrelated to the smell of the food, if the sound of the whistle was paired multiple times with the smell, the whistle sound would eventually trigger the conditioned response. In this case, the sound of the whistle is the conditioned stimulus. The during conditioning phase involves repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus. Eventually, the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus. Phase 3: After Conditioning Once the association has been made between the UCS and the CS, presenting the conditioned stimulus alone will come to evoke a response—even without the unconditioned stimulus. The resulting response is known as the conditioned response (CR). The conditioned response is the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus. In our example, the conditioned response would be feeling hungry when you heard the sound of the whistle. In the after conditioning phase, the conditioned stimulus alone triggers the conditioned response. What Are Examples of Classical Conditioning? Fear and phobias Response John B. Watson's experiment with Little Albert is an example of the fear response.10 The child initially showed no fear of a white rat, but after the rat was paired repeatedly with loud, scary sounds, the child began to cry when the rat was present. Prior to the conditioning, the white rat was a neutral stimulus. The unconditioned stimulus was the loud, clanging sounds, and the unconditioned response was the fear response created by the noise. By repeatedly pairing the rat with the unconditioned stimulus, the white rat (now the conditioned stimulus) came to evoke the fear response (now the conditioned response). This experiment illustrates how phobias can form through classical conditioning. In many cases, a single pairing of a neutral stimulus (a dog, for example) and a frightening experience (being bitten by the dog) can lead to a lasting phobia (being afraid of dogs).  2. Operant Conditioning How Reinforcement and Punishment Modify Behavior Learning Through Reinforcement Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning that involves strengthening or weakening a behavior by using reinforcement or punishment. Operant conditioning was first described by the behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner. It is sometimes also referred to as Skinnerian conditioning and instrumental instrumental conditioning conditioning. Skinner believed that classical conditioning simply could not account for instrumental conditioning all types of learning and was more interested in learning how the consequences of actions influence behaviors. Like classical conditioning, operant conditioning relies on forming associations. In operant conditioning, however, associations are made between a behavior and the consequences (whether negative or positive) of that behavior. In operant conditioning: Learning occurs when behaviors are followed by either reinforcement or punishment The consequences must quickly follow the behavior Focuses on voluntary behaviors In operant conditioning: When a behavior leads to a desirable consequence, it becomes more likely that the behavior will be repeated in the future. The behavior becomes less likely if the actions lead to a negative outcome.  For example, when lab rats press a lever when a green light is on, they receive a food pellet as a reward. When they press the lever when a red light is on, they receive a mild electric shock. As a result, they learn to press the lever when the green light is on and avoid the red light. Types of Behaviors Skinner distinguished between two different types of behaviors Respondent behaviors are those that occur automatically and reflexively, such as pulling your hand back from a hot stove or jerking your leg when the doctor taps on your knee. You don't have to learn these behaviors. They simply occur automatically and involuntarily. Operant behaviors, on the other hand, are those under our conscious control. Some may occur spontaneously and others purposely, but it is the consequences of these actions that then influence whether or not they occur again in the future. Our actions on the environment and the consequences of that action make up an important part of the learning process.  There are four types of operant conditioning that can be utilized to change behavior: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers. In both of these cases of reinforcement, the behavior increases. 1.Positive reinforcers are favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In positive reinforcement situations, a response or behavior is strengthened by the addition of praise or a direct reward. If you do a good job at work and your manager gives you a bonus, that bonus is a positive reinforcer. 2.Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavorable events or outcomes after the display of a behavior. In these situations, a response is strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant. For example, if your child starts to scream in the middle of a restaurant, but stops once you hand them a treat, your action led to the removal of the unpleasant condition, negatively reinforcing your behavior (not your child's).  Punishment in Operant Conditioning Punishment is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of punishment. In both of these cases, the behavior decreases. Positive punishment, sometimes referred to as punishment by application, Positive punishment presents an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it follows. Spanking for misbehavior is an example of punishment by application. Negative punishment, also known as punishment by removal, occurs when a Negative punishment favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs. Taking away a child's video game following misbehavior is an example of negative punishment.  What Is the Difference Between Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning? Operant conditioning is a learning method in which a specific behavior is associated with either a positive or negative consequence. This form of learning links voluntary actions with receiving either a reward or punishment, often to strengthen or weaken those voluntary behaviors. Classical conditioning is a learning process focused more on involuntary behaviors, using associations with neutral stimuli to evoke a specific involuntary response. The key insight to take home from learning theory is that most behavior is learned behavior, for animals as well as human beings. If behavior can be learned, it can also be unlearned, so long as the right steps are followed (as described by the learning theory), and the right reinforcements or punishments are applied. Tips: behavior theories ✓ A child will repeat a behavior if it is being rewarded. ✓ A child will be less likely to repeat a behavior if sanctions are issued. ✓ If there is no consistency with rewards and sanctions then it is likely the child will continue to display the unwanted behavior. ✓The more attention the teacher gives to a child‘s behavior the more likely it is that that behavior will be repeated