PSY BEH 11B Chapter 7.4-7.8: Psy Beh 11B Chapter 7.4-7.8: pp. 278-298: Instrumental Conditioning, Observational Learning, Varieties of Learning, The Neural Basis for Learning, and Some Final Thoughts: Learning Theory and Beyond

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Psychology and Social Behavior
• Course: PSY BEH 11B
• Professor: Mark Steyvers

Document Summary

Varieties of learning / the neural basis for learning / some final. Thorndike and the law of effect: experimental study of instrumental conditioning: debate over darwin"s theory of evolution by natural selection, opponents: crucial discontinuity of human ability to think and reason (claim animals did not share) Darwin and colleagues argue considerable continuity of mental prowess: need objective and better documented research, made possible 1898 by edward l. thorndike"s method. First trial: no notion of how to escape: meow loudly, claw, bite, pure accident: hit upon correct response. Subsequent trials: gradual improvement, less time to produce correct response and open door. Final performance: credit cats with reason/understanding: learning curve decline quite gradually as learning proceeded; not expected if cats achieved understanding (sudden drop, suggest cats learned in increments; no evidence of understanding or insight into solution. The law of effect: cats" initial responses led to failure; trials proceeded, tendency to produce weakened.