Topic 4 Subtopic 1 Limits of Learning Notes PDF
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Uploaded by BrainySakura
University of South Australia
2020
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Summary
These notes discuss the limits of learning for individuals based on their species, physical characteristics, learned behavior, individual differences, critical periods, and neurological damage influencing learning.
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25/08/2020 Topic 4: Subtopic 1 Limits of Learning for individuals and species BIOLOGICAL AND LEARNING PSYCHOLOGY Course coordinator: Associate Professor Carla Litchfield 1...
25/08/2020 Topic 4: Subtopic 1 Limits of Learning for individuals and species BIOLOGICAL AND LEARNING PSYCHOLOGY Course coordinator: Associate Professor Carla Litchfield 1 SKINNER SHAPING AGNES TO RUN UP A WALL FOR ‘LOOK’ MAGAZINE (1952) Photos: © www.behavior.org 2 1 25/08/2020 SKINNER SHAPING AGNES TO OPEN LID OF BIN FOR ‘LOOK’ MAGAZINE (1952) Photos: © www.behavior.org 3 SKINNER’S PIGEON-GUIDED BOMB © Ari Schindler; Museum of American History, Washington, D.C. 4 2 25/08/2020 LIMITS OF LEARNING Every individual is limited in what behaviours it can perform based on the physiology its species. For example: Fish can’t leap over hurdles on land People can’t breathe under water or fly like birds Cows can’t move on their bellies like snakes 5 LIMITS OF LEARNING (1) Physical characteristics The physical structure of individuals or species sets limits on what can be learned. For example: chimpanzees can’t learn to speak like humans because their anatomical vocal structures are not like ours (2) learned behavior is NOT inherited Learned behavior is not passed on to future generations: Every individual has to learn many of the same skills acquired by its parents This limits what one individual can learn in a lifetime 6 3 25/08/2020 LIMITS OF LEARNING (3) Individual differences Heredity plays a role in learning ability- but is controversial: genes contribute to differences within & between species; but environment also plays a role (e.g. enriched early learning environments) (4) critical periods Stages of development for optimal learning: imprinting in birds, maternal behavior in primates) Do they occur in humans? first 12 years may be critical for learning language 7 LIMITS OF LEARNING (5) neurological damage Prenatal exposure to alcohol & other drugs can interfere with neurological development Exposure to neurotoxins (substances that damage nerve tissues) in infancy/early childhood are a threat to learning ability: – lead in old paint & drinking water – Pesticides, herbicides, solvents, medications, recreational drugs, some foods & food supplements Head injury (blows to head, shaking child, car accidents, sports injury) Malnutrition during fetal development/early childhood 8 4 25/08/2020 REFERENCES You don’t need to find these but they are given here to acknowledge sources Schultz-Figueroa, B. (2019). Project Pigeon: Rendering the War Animal through Optical Technology. Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, 58, 92-111. doi:10.1353/cj.2019.0059. Peterson, G. B. (2001). The world’s first look at shaping or B. F. Skinner’s gutsy gamble. The Clicker Journal: A Magazine for Animal Trainers, 49/50, 14–12. Powell, R.A. et al (2015). CP1052 - BEHL 2012 Biological and Learning Psychology (1st Edition). Compiled by Dr Carla Litchfield. South Melbourne, Victoria: Cengage Learning. (Chapter: The Limits of Learning, pp.184-200). Sources for images are provided with the images or have been sourced as freely available for reuse (e.g. Pixabay) 9 5
