Learning - Department of Psychological Sciences

Spontaneous RecoveryAfter a rest period, an extinguished CR (salivation)spontaneously recovers, but if the CS (tone) persistsalone, the CR becomes extinct again.Stimulus GeneralizationTendency to respond tostimuli similar to the CS iscalled generalization.Pavlov conditioned thedog’s salivation (CR) byusing miniature vibrators(CS) on the thigh. When hesubsequently stimulatedother parts of the dog’sbody, salivation dropped.1920Stimulus DiscriminationDiscrimination is the learned ability to distinguishbetween a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli thatdo not signal an unconditioned stimulus.Extending Pavlov’s UnderstandingPavlov and Watson considered consciousness,or mind, unfit for the scientific study ofpsychology. However, they underestimatedthe importance of cognitive processes andbiological constraints.2122Cognitive ProcessesEarly behaviorists believed that learnedbehaviors of various animals could be reducedto mindless mechanisms.StimulusBlack BoxResponseHowever, later behaviorists suggested thatanimals learn the predictability of a stimulus,meaning they learn expectancy or awareness of astimulus (Rescorla, 1988).Biological PredispositionsPavlov and Watson believed that laws oflearning were similar for all animals.Therefore, a pigeon and a person do not differin their learning.However, behaviorists later suggested thatlearning is constrained by an animal’s biology(i.e., Robert Bolles and “species-specificdefense reactions”).23244