Biology, Cognition & Learning
and Learning by Observation
Human Taste Aversions: Results
1. Eighty-two percent of Rozins subjects rated the clean-flyswatter soup
a 4 or less; they would dislike eating it.
2. Fifty-eight percent disliked this bowl of soup. Because the flyswatter is
brand new, it has less of an association with insects. However, the idea
that the soup had been stirred by an object that might meet a fly in the
future was enough to make some people pass it up.
3. Seventy-six percent disliked this soup. Presumably, the thought of
human hair is slightly less disgusting than insect contamination.
4. Seventy-one percent disliked soup served in a dog bowl.
5. Only 34 percent would want to pass up this cookie. Theres no
assurance of perfect cleanliness, but grass itself has few negative
associations for most of us.
6. Eighty-four percent would reject this cookie after a waiter had taken a
bite. Only 31 percent would refuse it after an acquaintance had taken a
bite, and just 16 percent if a friend had taken a bite.
Biological Constraints on
Conditioning
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Classical Conditioning
John Garcia
Conditioned Taste Aversion
Biologically primed associations
Natural Selection and Learning
Genetic predisposition: i.e. viewing
someone surrounded by red as more
attractive
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Classical Conditioning
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Classical Conditioning
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Classical Conditioning
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Classical Conditioning
Biological Constraints on Conditioning
Limits on Operant Conditioning
Naturally
adapting
behaviors
Instinctive drift
Cognitions Influence on Conditioning
Cognitive Processes and Classical
Conditioning
Predictability of an event
Expectancy
Stimulus
associations
Cognitions Influence on Conditioning
Cognitive Processes and Operant
Conditioning
Latent learning
Cognitive map
Insight
Intrinsic
motivation
Extrinsic
motivation
Learning and Personal Control
Cope
Problem-focused coping
Emotion-focused coping
Learning and Personal Control
Learned Helplessness
Learned helplessness (Martin Seligman)
Learning and Personal Control
Learned Helplessness
Learned helplessness (Martin Seligman)
Learning and Personal Control
Learned Helplessness
Learned helplessness (Martin Seligman)
Learning and Personal Control
Learned Helplessness: Internal
Versus External Locus of Control
External locus of control
Internal locus of control
Learning and Personal Control
Learned Helplessness: Depleting
and Strengthening Self-Control
Self-control
Learning by Observation
Mirrors and Imitation in the
Brain
Observational learning: learning
by observing others and imitating
their actions
Also called social learning
Modeling: observing and imitating a
specific behavior (i.e. learning a
language)
Banduras Bobo Doll Experiment
How much does watching other people
influence our behavior?
Conclusions from the Bobo doll experiment:
Observing aggressive actions led to children
imitating the behavior (actions and words)
By watching a model, we experience vicarious
reinforcement or vicarious punishment and learn
to anticipate a behaviors consequences.
We are especially likely to learn from people we
perceive to be similar to us.
We develop empathy as we get older, if that
behavior is observed.
Mirrors and Imitation in the
Brain
Mirrors and Imitation in the
Brain
Mirrors and Imitation in the
Brain
Mirrors and Imitation in the
Brain
Mirror neurons: frontal lobe
neurons that some scientists
believe fire when performing
certain actions or when observing
another doing so. Mirror neurons
might enable imitation and
empathy.
Mirrors and Imitation in the Brain
Cognitive imitation
Applications of Observational Learning
Prosocial versus Antisocial Effects
Prosocial effects: positive, constructive, helpful
behavior learned through behavior modeling
Examples: leaning how to care for a baby
sister by watching your parents; learning skills
of a new job by watching other workers
Antisocial effects: negative effects of observation
Examples: learning abuse from a parent;
learning violence from TV