Psychology of LearningEXP4404

Chapter 1: Learning to Change

Dr. Steve

Topics Covered

Natural Selection Mutations Reflexes Sensitization vs. Habituation Modal Action Patterns Releasers General Behavior Traits

Limits of Natural Selection Learning

Nature/Nurture Learning/Instinct

Natural Selection

Natural Selection Adaptive forms of behavior include:

Reflexes Modal Action Patterns General Behavior Traits

Natural Selection

Characteristics “selected” for may eventually become maladaptive. Sickle-shaped red blood cells in Africans Wings on Walking Stick” Coloration of Peppered Moths

Natural Selection

Mutations If occurs in reproductive cells may be passed on to

offspring Most are not adaptive and die out with generation

2-headed turtle White alligator 8-legged frogs

Natural Selection

Reflexes Simple nervous reactions which can be modified in

that they may be triggered by different stimuli through learning.

Grasping Rooting Sucking Eye blink Pupillary Vomit Patellar

Reflex Arc

Natural Selection

Reflexes Sensitization

Buzzing mosquito Gun fire

Habituation Touching sea anemone Wet pull-up diaper Strong cologne

Natural Selection

Sensitization vs. Habituation

Habituation Sensitization

1. Stimulus Intensity Weak: increased likelihood

Strong: Increased likelihood

2. Timing of Stimulus Presentation

More rapid, more effective (however, longer it is lead to longer lasting habituation)

More rapid, more effective

3. Stimulus Variation Less variation, more effective (more predictable)

More variation, more effective (fewer trials req’d, less predictable)

4. Presence of Extraneous Stimuli

Interferes with Interferes with

5. Biological Usefulness

Less likely to habituate

More likely to sensitize

Sensitize or Habituate? Screaming baby in movie theater? Communication in married couples? Florida State war chant? Watch chime? Florida heat and humidity? Tabasco sauce? State Troopers on I-10?

Natural Selection

Sensitization vs. Habituation

Natural Selection

Modal Action Patterns AKA: Fixed action patterns, species-specific behavior,

species-typical behavior, instincts Complex behavior, difficult to change

Cat arches back, hisses, and flicks tail (fend off enemies) Migration of geese in V-formation (cope with elements) Woodpeckers peck holes in trees (procure food) Wide receiver does end zone dance (show off)

Natural Selection

Releasers Male stickleback fish attacks red underbelly

If you were a stickleback fish, which object would you attack?

Natural Selection

General Behavior Traits More variable than Modal Action Patterns

Levels of introversion, aggression, anxiety, general activity, and sexual practices

Behavior traits may be genetically linked to physical characteristics so that when one is selected, so is the other

Dog breeding – dogs bred for certain physical traits often have similar temperament (e.g., small nippy dogs)

Traits adaptive at one time, may become maladaptive Agoraphobia protected gatherers from predators

Limits of Natural Selection

Natural selection cannot aid survival when environment changes abruptly Asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction Endangered polar bears due to global warming Introduction of new species into ecosystems (iguana) Overhunting/fishing (buffalo, passenger pigeon) Man-made challenges (armadillo’s jump when

approached)

Learning

Learning defined as:

Learning

Behavior Experience Stimuli

Humans cannot detect x-rays; bees can Humans cannot detect sounds higher than 20,000 Hz; dogs

can Response

Glandular secretions – stomach acid, tears, saliva Muscle actions – walking, talking, gestures

Learning

Why is the ability to learn “selected” for? It allows organisms to adapt to abruptly changing

environments (whereas other changes do not) Taste aversions – develop a distaste for something that

makes you sick (e.g., certain BBQ restaurant) Batesian mimicry – Survival based on mimicking other

organisms. Birds learn to avoid eating viceroy butterflies because they look like the poisonous and foul tasting monarch (this taste aversion benefits both bird and viceroy)

Learning

Story of the Bombardier Beetle vs. the Mouse Learning or MAP (instinct)?

Characteristic of learning BeetleY/N

MouseY/N

1. Involves change in behavior?

2. Occurs because of experience?

3. Leads to different behaviors depending on circumstances?

Learning

Nature vs. Nurture, or Nature via Nurture? Which is more important in changing behavior?

Harlow – monkeys raised in isolation did not learn mating skills.

Kuo – 45% of cats raised without mothers did not learn how to hunt.

Hart & Risley – Children with parents that talked to them more, later scored higher on tests of intelligence.

Learning

Learning or Instinct? Eaglet flies for the first time? Faun runs from predator? Human baby walks? Human baby swims? Owlet hunts for first time? Robin builds nest for first time? Songbird sings? Puppy digs holes in yard? Kitten uses litter box? Toddler uses potty?