Ch. 9 Social Learning

Latent Learning: • Latent learning Latent literally means hidden, and latent learning is learning that becomes obvious only once a reinforcement is given for demonstrating it. Edward Toleman studied latent learning by using rats and showing us that learning can occur but may not be immediately evident.

Latent Learning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9UDvHAsddE

Toleman had three groups of rats run through a maze on a series of trials. One group (Group A) got a reward each time it completed the maze, and the performance of these rats improved steadily over time. Another group of rats (Group B) never got a reward, and their performance improved only slightly over the course of the experiment. A third group of rats (Group C) was not rewarded during the first half of the experiment, but was given a reward during the second half of the experiment. Not surprisingly, during the first half of the trials, Group C was very similar to the group that never received a reward (Group B). The interesting finding, however, was that Group C's performance improved dramatically and suddenly once it began to be rewarded for finishing the maze. In fact, Group C's performance almost caught up to Group A's performance even though Group A was rewarded through the whole experiment.

Latent learning• Toleman came to the conclusion that these rats must have

learned their way around the maze during the first half of the experiment. Their performance did not improve because they had no reason to run the maze quickly. Toleman believed that their dramatic improvement in maze-running time was due to latent learning. He suggested they made a mental representation, or cognitive map, of the maze during the first half of the experiment and displayed this knowledge once they were rewarded. What are the implications of latent learning on some students in school?

Insight Learning: the sudden appearance of an answer or solution to a problem.

• Wolfgang Kohler: exposed chimpanzees to new learning tasks and concluded the learn by insight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPz6uvIbWZE

Insight learning

• Neo did not know kung fu until he needed to use it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j82GKTgVDkw

Social or Observational Learning

• Modeling by watching the behavior of a model. For example; if you want to learn a new dance step you watch someone else do it.

• Albert Bandura and his BoBo Doll

• We learn through modeling behavior from others.

• Observational learning + Operant Conditioning

Click pic to see some observational learning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zerCK0lRjp8

The Brain: A Secret History - Emotions; Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment

• Bandura and many other researchers founded that 88% of the children imitated the aggressive behavior. Eight months later, 40% of the same children reproduce the violent behavior observed in the Bobo doll experiment.

Children See, Children Do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHi2dxSf9hw

Children see Children do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2pK2NxewhM

Further Research: Observational Learning

• Viewing violence can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior. (300)

• Viewing violence reduces our sensitivity to violence. (videogames)

• Viewing violence decreases our concern about the suffering of victims

• Feeling pride or shame here impacts our further reaction(s) to violence

Click the PIC!

• http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=678389n• The video game defense:

At what age do you think that media violence impacts people the most?

1. Elementary school2. Middle school3. High school4. College5. Adult

Do you think that it is important to have ratings on media?

1. Yes2. Maybe3. No4. Not sure

Which of the following forms of media impact children most when it comes to violence?

1. Video Games2. Movies3. Music4. Television5. Internet

Taste Aversion Scenario:

• You have the stomach flu• You eat popcorn and throw up 2

hours later (the delay portion of this is important)

• Stomach Virus is the UCS• Vomiting is the UCR• Now you don’t want to eat

popcorn• NOTE: Behavioral psychologists

have a tough time explaining this because of the length of time in between eating something and getting sick.

• How do we choose what to blame the sickness on?

Last Few Terms:

• Counter conditioning – reward behavior when improvement is made

• Mere exposure effect – the more you see something, the more likely you are to buy it or do it.

• Superstitions – happen just like any other association – something positive happened so they want to do it again

Behavioral Modification:• Systematic Desensitization – Provide the person with a very

minor version of the phobia and work them up to handling the phobia comfortably.

• Example: Fear of snakes:• 1. Have them watch a short movie about snakes• 2. Have them hold a stuffed animal snake• 3. Have them hold a plastic snake• 4. Have them hold a glass container with a snake inside• 5. Have them touch a small harmless snake• 6. Gradually work to holding a regular size snake

• Power point was adapted from :• http://www.appsychology.com/appsychPP/ap

psychology/APpresentationshome.htm• http://www.actfl.org/images/April08TLEMark

ParisiCartoonOffTheMark.jpg• http://www.sangrea.net/free-cartoons/phil_j

oy-of-learning.jpg• http://hollywoodhatesme.files.wordpress.co

m/2009/10/jason.jpg• http://blogs.smh.com.au/sit/broccoli2.jpg• http://www.blog.joelx.com/de-motivational-p

osters/730/