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satisfying experience tends to be repeated (learned). Later, B. F.
Skinner (1904-1990) saw operant conditioning as a way of controlling
almost all behavior. These scientists sought to study experimentally a
very simple form of animal learning, which would help explain complex
human behavior. It was a good idea, but it didn't work as well as they
had hoped. There were many other psychologists, following Darwin,
interested in learning but these four are giants.
Three basic kinds of learning: Classical conditioning, operant
conditioning, and social or observational learning
Let's start with the more simple forms of learning, even though it's
never so simple in real life. It is helpful to think of behavior as
occurring in a certain context or following certain events
(environmental or internal stimuli) and resulting in certain
consequences (rewards or punishment; success or failure). Thus,
several writers have spoken of the ABC's of behavior as described in
Table 4.1.
Table 4.1
Type of
Conditioning
Antecedents
Behavior
Consequences
classical-Pavlov
1. pair tone &
food
salivation
---
classical-Watson
2. pair rat & loud fear of rat
noise
---
operant-
Thorndike
3. (in a cage)
pull strings
escape & get
food
operant-Skinner
4. (in Skinner
Box)
press bar
food
operant (job)
5. (at work)
work
pay
self-
reinforcement
6. (self-help
project)
study more
watch 1/2 hr. TV
avoidance-
Mowrer
7. see a rat
run away
temporary relief
of fear (but fear
grows)
avoidance
learning
8. child cries
give in to child
crying stops but
cries sooner and
