What is Learning?

Lesson 1

Psychology

Scientific study of behavior and cognitive processes

Behavior Text: What you do any event that can be objectively

measured Cognitive processes

mental processes that control behavior ~

Behavior

Adaptive Behavior Helps us to survive in

changing environment Origins of behavior

Inherited genes

Learned experience ~

Surviving in an Uncertain World

Detect changes in environment Integrate important information Respond adaptively ~

Learning Mechanisms Inherited

Survival value Behavior results from neural activity Adjust behaviors to changing

environment neural activity & structure changes relatively permanent ~

Definition of Learning A relatively permanent change in the ability to exhibit a behavior resulting from prior experience with specific environmental events or

similar events Can be an or in behavior Event learning

How to respond to events Relationships / associations ~

Excluded Changes in Behavior

Reflexes Temporary changes in physiological

state Maturation ~

Learning vs. Performance

Performance: Organism’s activities at particular time

Learning ability to exhibit behavior Inferred by performance

unsuccessful performance

successful performance

learning

no learning?

Not necessarily

Learning vs. Performance

Determinants of performance learning motivation physical abilities sensory abilities opportunity ~

Terminology

Adaptive/Maladaptive Stimulus Response Stimuli & Responses

Behaviors Emotions Thoughts

Overt/covert ~

Learning is adaptive

Survival value Behavior results from neural activity Adjust behaviors to changing

environment neural activity & structure changes relatively permanent ~

Learning

Usually adaptive It benefits the individual

Can be maladaptive Harmful to individual ~