Learning and

Behavior Change
 Objectives

• Define Learning.
• Describe various types of learning.
• Differentiate between classical and
operant conditioning.
• Describe behavior modification
techniques
• Use principles of learning in medical
practice.
 Outline

• What is Learning
• Types of learning
• Classical Conditioning
• Operant/Instrumental Conditioning
• Use of Learning Principles in Clinical
Setting
 What is Learning?

• “A relatively permanent change in an

organism’s behavior due to experience”.
• Allows us to adapt to changing
environments.
• We learn primarily by experiencing.
events, observing relationships between
those events.
• Achieve goals & solve problems.
 Types of Learning

• Classical Conditioning
• Operant conditioning
• Observational Learning
• Perceptual Learning
• Latent Learning
• Insight Learning
 Classical Conditioning

• Classical condition is
learning by association
– Also called “reflexive
learning”
• The Russian
physiologist, Ivan
Pavlov,1905
• Involves association of two sequential
events (A & B) such that one event (B)
acquires the ability to elicit responses
formerly associated with the other
event (A)
• Experiments with dogs
Pavlov’s Experiment
Analysis of Pavlov’s Study
 Classical Conditioning
Terms
• Unconditioned stimulus (US):
– A stimulus that always elicits a
specific response in the absence of
any training.
• Unconditioned response (UR):
– A response that is always elicited by a
specific stimulus in the absence of
any training.
 Classical
Conditioning Terms
• Neutral stimulus:
– A stimulus that does not elicit a
specific response.
• Conditioned stimulus (CS):
– A neutral stimulus that acquires the
ability to elicit a specific response
• Conditioned response (CR):
– A response similar to the UR that is
elicited by the CS.
 Common Examples of
Classical Conditioning

• Classical conditioning is involved in many

of our behaviors
• Too much alcohol. Afterwards even the
sight of alcohol can nauseous.
• UCS = too much alcohol
• UCR = getting sick
• CS = sight of alcohol
• Phobias - Irrational fears
• Conditioned food (taste) aversion -
Classically conditioning a novel flavor to
illness
 Clinical Example
• After repeated trips to the hospital for
chemotherapy (Unconditioned Stimulus),
the side effects of which include nausea
(Unconditioned Response), a patient may
begin to experience nausea (Conditioned
Response) as soon as the hospital
(Conditioned Stimulus) comes into the
view. Thus, through an associative
learning process, the hospital acquires
the ability to induce feeling of nausea.
 Classical Conditioning
in Humans

• J. B. Watson classically conditioned

“Little Albert” to fear white rabbit.
 Little Albert Example

• Presented a little
baby with a rabbit.
Everytime the
rabbit was
presented a loud
‘clang’ behind
Albert’s head
causing him to
startle.
• The child then became afraid of the
rabbit.
 Classical Conditioning
in Humans

• John reconditioned “Robert” to not fear

rabbits
• This procedure evolved into
desensitization therapy.
 Clinical Example
• A diabetic patient refuses to test her
own blood glucose levels because she
is phobic about needles. These fears
date to a traumatic childhood injury and
a frightening visit to the emergency
room. The patient is referred for
“Systematic desensitization”,
progressive exposure of the patient to
the avoided object.
 Operant Conditioning

• B.F Skinner (1904-1990)

• Operant conditioning is
learning from the
consequences of
behavior.
• Organisms make
responses that have
consequences.
• "Skinner box"
– The consequences serve to increase
or decrease the likelihood of making
that response again
– A B C Model
 Operant/Instrumental
Conditioning

• We put coins in a machine

to obtain food
• But we refrain when an Out
of Order sign is placed on
the machine
• Operant behaviors are different from the
responses involved in classical
conditioning
– They are voluntarily emitted
– Those in classical conditioning are
elicited by stimuli.
 Operant Conditioning
Terms
• Reinforcer is:
– Any biological, behavioral, cognitive,
or environmental event that leads to
an increase in behavior by reducing
stress and restoring homeostasis
(e.g., eating, resting, power, praise,
fame)
 Types of Reinforcement

• Primary reinforcers – food or water

• Secondary reinforcers – money or
power
• Positive reinforcers: having a
rewarding experience
• Negative reinforcers: avoiding an
unpleasant experience
 Differences Between Classical
and Operant Conditioning
• Classical conditioning is passive on the
part of the learner.
• Operant conditioning relies on the learner
to actively participate in the learning
process.
• In operant conditioning reinforcers act as
incentives for learning.
• Classical conditioning, on the other hand,
does not provide incentives.
 Cognitive Learning

• Cognitive learning:
–Learning that depends on mental
processes that are not directly
observable
• Latent learning:
– Learning that is not immediately
reflected in a behavioral change
 Insight Learning

• Insight:
– Learning that occurs rapidly as a
result of understanding all the
elements of a problem.
Insight
 Social Learning
Theory

• Albert Bandura (1961)

• A view of learning that
emphasizes the ability
to learn by observing a
model without firsthand
experience by the
observer.
• Role Model
 Behavior Modification
Techniques
• Behavior modification is the use of basic
learning techniques to alter human behaviors
such as:
– Conditioning:
Systematic desensitization to treat Phobias
(hierarchy of fears, Relaxation Techniques)
– Reinforcement: Use of Positive Reinforcement
(to increase desirable behavior)
Recording Fear/Anxiety
• Aversion therapy: Aversion therapy is a form of
behavior therapy that uses the principles of classical
conditioning in which an aversive stimulus (e.g. nausea
inducing drug) is paired with a maladaptive behavior in
order to reduce or eliminate that behavior.

• Alcohol is paired with a chemical that causes nausea

and vomiting.
• Person should learn to associate alcohol with nausea.
 Behavior Modification
Techniques
• Modeling is learning
through observation of
others. Modeling can:
– initiate behavior
– teach new task
– influence response
rate
– teach emotional
responses
• Role Play
 Use of Learning Principles
in Clinical Setting
• Behavior Therapy: treatment of stress-
induced disorders, Anxiety disorders
• Cognitive Behavior therapy: use of cognitive
techniques along with behavioral
techniques - Depression, Schizophrenia
• Acquisition of fear and anxiety about
hospitals
• Chemotherapy for treating cancer
• Treatment of phobias
• Unhealthy Lifestyles
• Reactions to illness
• Discontinue bad habits