Types of Machine Learning
Positive Reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed.
Negative Reinforcement
Involves the removal of an unpleasant consequence.
Punishment
An unpleasant consequence of behaviour.
Learning through Reinforcement in Psychology
Positive and negative reinforcement increases the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Punishment decreases the likelihood that behaviour will be repeated. Animals involved are exposed to stressful conditions, which may have affected how they reacted to the situation. Animal studies may not be generalizable to humans, so studies have less validity.
Example of Learning through Reinforcement
The dogs were placed in a sealed room (avoiding extraneous variables). The dog was presented with food and it salivated. They were presented with a neutral stimulus of a bell - they didn't salivate. The food and bell were then presented together. The dog was then presented with the bell alone.
Operant Conditioning
Involves the cognitive approach that emphasizes the importance of mental processes during learning. It suggests that learning is an active process where behavior is shaped by consequences. Behaviorists view humans as passive and machine-like responders to the environment. They ignore other factors influencing learning, such as cognitive factors.
Classical Conditioning in Psychology
Classical conditioning has been applied to treating phobias, etc. It is a way of explaining behavior in terms of what's observable in terms of learning. Early behaviorists, like Watson, rejected introspection, as it involved vague concepts difficult to measure. They try to maintain control and objectivity within their research, relying on lab experiments.
Reinforcement Learning Example
The dogs eventually learned to associate the sound of the bell with food in Pavlov's dogs study. This shows that a neutral stimulus can come to elicit a new learned response through association.
Types of Human Learning
There are four types of machine learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, and insight learning. Classical conditioning examples can be found in everyday life, such as associating the sound of an alarm with waking up in the morning.
Types of Behavioral Theories
Behaviorist psychologists focus on studying observable and measurable behavior. They see all behavior as determined by past experiences, for example, reinforcement history.
Implications of Behaviorism in the Classroom
Real-life applications of behaviorism include the basis of the successful token economy systems in institutions. Behaviorism was able to bring the language and methods of the natural sciences into psychology, giving psychology credibility and status.
Conclusion
In conclusion, behaviorism has its strengths and limitations. It was influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline by emphasizing the importance of scientific processes like objectivity and replication. However, it has its limitations, such as assuming all behavior can be broken down into stimulus-response and ignoring that humans have free will.
