CC2413 Fundamental Psychology for Health Studies

Supplementary Exercise 4: Comparison of Learning Types & Exercise

With the help of the two charts, please identify the specific type/s of learning involve(s) in each of the following daily examples.
Who is learning in the example? Identify the mechanism/processes of learning in these examples. What response (R) has the
subject eventually learned in each case? If it is an example of Classical Conditioning, please identify the NS, UCS, UCR, CS & CR
in the example. If it is an example of Operant Conditioning, please specify what the R is and which kind of consequences involves. If
it is an example of Observational learning, please identify which behavior has been imitated and who is the model.

Comparison on Three Types of Learning

Behavioral Approach Cognitive Approach

Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Observational Learning

Key person Ivan Pavlov B.F. Skinner Albert Bandura

A neutral stimulus (NS) (for In a stimulus situation, a An observer attends to a

example, a tone) is paired response(R) is followed by model’s behavior (for example,
Procedure with an unconditioned favorable consequences aggressive bargaining) and its
stimulus (UCS) (such as (reinforcement) or consequences (for example, a
food) that elicits an unfavorable consequences good buy on a car).
unconditioned response (punishment).
(UCR) (salivation).

The NS becomes a If reinforced, the R is The observer stores a mental

conditioned stimulus (CS)
Result that elicits the conditioned
response (CR) (for example,
a tone triggers salivation).
strengthened (emitted more
frequently); if punished, the
R is weakened (emitted less
frequently).
representation of the modeled
response; the observer’s
tendency to emit the
response(R) may be
strengthened or weakened,
depending on the consequences
observed.

Nature of NS becomes a CS through Probability of making a R is Through observation of a

association with a UCS altered by consequences model’s conditioning.
learning that follow it.

Nature of re- Mostly involuntary, reflex, Mostly voluntary, Mostly voluntary, consist of
visceral spontaneous novel and complex sequences
sponse

Reinforce- Occurs before response (CS Occurs after response (R is Not apply
paired with UCS) followed by reinforcing
ment stimulus or event)

Role of Passive (response is elicited Active (response is emitted) Active (response is emitted)
by UCS)
learner
Sources

Kalat, J. W. (2002). Introduction to psychology (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Weiten, W. (2004). Psychology: Themes and variations (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
rd
Zimbardo, P. G., Weber, A. L., & Johnson, R. L. (2000). Psychology (3 ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
1 updated on 22/09/2009 by May Poon
 Behavioral Effects of Various Consequences in Operant Learning

Present / Apply after the Response (R) Remove / Do not apply after the R

Positive Reinforcement Omission Training/Extinction (reward is

Pleasant (reward after a R: e.g. food, prize, award, withheld after a R) &
praise, thanks, attention, money, sex, certain Negative Punishment involving removal of
Stimulus
drugs) desirable conditions

*** Effect → R probability → Increase ↑↑ *** Effect → R probability → Decrease ↓↓

Positive Punishment/Passive Avoidance Negative Reinforcement/Escape
Learning involving application of aversive Learning/Active Avoidance Learning (removal
Unpleasant
stimulus after a R (e.g. pain, discomfort, fearful of painful stimulus, discomfort, penalty after a R)
/ Aversive or offensive stimuli)
Stimulus → R probability → Increase ↑↑
→ R probability → Decrease ↓↓
*** Effect
*** Effect

1. Whenever Tom’s mother complains on his father, Tom notices his father will shut up. Often, Tom’s mother will stop complaining soon as she

feels she is talking to the air. So, Tom keeps silence every time when his girlfriend Vicky expressed dissatisfaction on him.

2. As Joyce grew up, her favorite dessert was the very delicious banana cakes baked by her mother, Fei Fei. Now, whenever she senses the

sweet smell of banana cake as she passed by a cake shop, she experiences a heart-warming feeling.

3. Edison once threw up and got diarrhea after eating Sashimi and Sushi at a Japanese restaurant in Causeway Bay, and he refuses to eat at that

restaurant since then.

4. You usually pour the canned dog food into a banana-shaped bowl to feed your lovely puppy, Stupid. Eventually, Stupid runs to you whenever he

saw you hold a bowl, but lately, Stupid only runs to you when you are holding the banana-shaped bowl.

5. Yesterday, three-year-old Ken screamed and cried immediately as he demanded a new game at TOYS “R”US. Ken’s mother felt that Ken was

too spoiled, and thus she decided to ignore his act out instead of fulfilling his wishes from then on. Ten minutes later, Ken stopped crying.

6. Brenda works at QE as a registered nurse for a year. Recently, she has been rotated from the pediatric ward to the emergency ward. Now, her

new supervisor, Niki, seems never satisfied with her work and criticizes her frequently. After a few weeks of heavy criticism, Brenda feels

nervous and anxious whenever she goes to work. She starts to smoke more frequently to reduce her stress and anxiety at work.

2 updated on 22/09/2009 by May Poon