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Personal Psychology 1: The Road to Self-Discovery

Unit 4: How You Learn

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Class 1: Lesson 1

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Unit Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

  • Describe the principle of classical conditioning and necessary components in the process
  • Describe the principle of operant conditioning and how learning occurs
  • Describe the principles of observational and cognitive learning and the important role it plays
  • Identify and explain the process of encoding in memory
  • Identify and explain the process of storage and retrieval and the role it plays in memory
  • Discuss types of memory disorders

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antisocial behavior

when an individual shows little to no regard for the feelings or rights of others and has little sense of right and wrong

associative learning

understanding that two events are related to one another

conditioned response (cr)

a learned response associated with a previously neutral stimulus

conditioned stimulus

a stimulus that triggers a response that before conditioning would not have aroused any behavior

encoding

when sensory information is converted into a form conducive to processing within the brain

explicit memories

information consisting of facts and experiences that we thoughtfully retrieve

implicit memories

learned skills or associations that are classically conditioned

long-term memory

information moved into storage for later retrieval

modeling

when behavior is observed and imitated

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neutral stimulus (ns)

a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning takes place

priming

unconsciously activating a component associated with memory

primary reinforcers

reinforcements that are correlated with biological needs

prosocial behavior

kind, uplifting, and helpful behavior that is considerate of the needs and feelings of others

secondary or conditioned reinforcers

linked with a primary reinforcer to increase a behavior

unconditioned response (ur)

a naturally, automatically occurring response

unconditioned stimulus (us)

a stimulus that naturally and automatically elicits a response

working memory

information that is used within a short amount of time to complete tasks and then discarded

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Classical Conditioning

Lesson 1

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Do You Hear What I Hear?

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Classical Conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus (US): a stimulus that naturally and automatically elicits a response

Neutral stimulus (NS): a natural, automatically occurring response

Conditioned response (CR): a learned response now associated with a previously neutral stimulus

Conditioned stimulus (CS): a stimulus that triggers a response that before conditioning would not have led to any change in behavior

FL SS.912.P.7.1: Describe the principles of classical conditioning.

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What examples of stimuli/responses �can you think of?

Conversation Starter

FL SS.912.P.7.3: Apply classical conditioning to everyday life.

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School Bells

Stimuli/Response

Grades

FL SS.912.P.7.2: Describe clinical and experimental examples of classical conditioning.

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Music

Stimuli/Response

Favorite Foods

FL SS.912.P.7.2: Describe clinical and experimental examples of classical conditioning.

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Class 2: Lesson 2

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Operant Conditioning

Lesson 2

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Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

Classical

Both

Operant

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Operant conditioning is also known as the _____ ___ __________.

1

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What positive and negative reinforcers have you noticed in your own life?

Conversation Starter

FL SS.912.P.7.6: Describe clinical and experimental examples of operant conditioning.

FL SS.912.P.7.7: Apply operant conditioning to everyday life.

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Reinforcement Schedules

Name

Description

Fixed-ratio

Reinforcement is administered after a specific number of responses.

Example: You do your chores every day for the week, on Saturday you get your allowance. 

Variable-ratio

Reinforcement occurs at an unpredictable time.

Example: In gambling, you never know when the slot machine might start dumping money.

Fixed-interval

Reinforcement is given only after a certain amount of time has passed. Learners know when to expect a reward, and their behavior increases as the time gets closer. 

Example: You really push hard the last week of school because you are working for a particular grade and any associated award that you’ll be given at the end of the semester.

Variable-interval

Reinforcement occurs after an unpredictable number of responses.

Example: You never know when you are going to get your next “like” on social media. As a result, the need to repeatedly check your social media feed is irresistible. �

FL SS.912.P.7.6: Describe clinical and experimental examples of operant conditioning.

FL SS.912.P.7.7: Apply operant conditioning to everyday life.

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Class 3: Lesson 3

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Observational and Cognitive Learning

Lesson 3

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In what situations have you observed what others were doing to learn how you should behave?

Conversation Starter

FL SS.912.P.7.8: Describe the principles of observational and cognitive learning.

FL SS.912.P.7.9: Apply observational and cognitive learning to everyday life.

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Charades

Prosocial Behavior

Antisocial behavior

Kind, uplifting, and helpful behavior, considerate of the needs and feelings of others

Behavior in which an individual shows little to no regard for the feelings or rights of others and has little sense of right and wrong

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Theories of Learning

Social Cultural Cognitive Theory

Developmental Theory

Information Processing Theory

Ecological Systems Theory

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Class 4: Lessons 4 and 5

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Encoding Memories

Lesson 4

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Can you remember this?

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What Impacts Encoding?

Acoustic

Visual

Semantic

High stress levels

Lack of sleep

Drug use

Lack of motivation

FL SS.912.P.11.1: Identify factors that influence encoding

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Working vs. Long-Term Memory

Working Memory (explicit memories)

Long-Term Memory (implicit memories)

Information that is used and stored for a short amount of time to complete a task and then discarded

Information moved into storage for later retrieval

FL SS.912.P.11.4:Describe the differences between working memory and long-term memory.

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Mnemonics

Chunking

Rhyming

Acrostics or acronyms

Visualization

FL SS.912.P.11.3: Discuss strategies for improving the encoding of memory.

FL SS.912.P.11.7: Discuss strategies for improving the storage of memories.

FL SS.912.P.11.12: Discuss strategies for improving the retrieval of memories.

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Storage and Retrieval

Lesson 5

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Memory Map!

Let's go on a road trip with your memories! Trace the paths of an explicit memory and an implicit memory from encoding to short- to long-term memory by labeling, at least, the following areas of the brain:

Hippocampus

Frontal lobe

Cortex

Cerebellum

Basal ganglia

FL SS.912.P.11.5: Identify and explain biological processes related to how memory is stored.

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Improving Memory

Mindfulness and meditation

Exercise

Sleep

Create associations

FL SS.912.P.11.3: Discuss strategies for improving the encoding of memory.

FL SS.912.P.11.7: Discuss strategies for improving the storage of memories.

FL SS.912.P.11.12: Discuss strategies for improving the retrieval of memories.

Say it out loud

Practice

Bring the information to mind

Cue the memory

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What is your earliest memory? �Was the memory affected by a video you may have seen of it or stories your family told you about it?

FL SS.912.P.11.11: Explain how memories can be malleable.

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Was it False Recall?

Barlett study (1932) 

"War of the Ghosts"

Differences in how people remembered the story

Criticism that the story was too weird to be reliable research

Spiro studies (1977, 1980)

Asked to recall story several weeks later

Participants invented details in their recollected versions to resolve the conflict in the story

FL SS.912.P.11.11: Explain how memories can be malleable.

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Class 5: Lesson 6

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Challenges in Memory

Lesson 6

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Types of Amnesia

Post-traumatic amnesia

Infantile amnesia

Transient global amnesia

Dissociative amnesia

FL SS.912.P.11.11: Explain how memories can be malleable.

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Dementia and Memory Loss Disorders

Lewy Body Dementia

Vascular Dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia

Mixed Dementia

FL SS.912.P.11.6: Discuss types of memory and memory disorders (e.g., amnesias, dementias).

Huntington's Disease

Alzheimer's

Parkinson's Disease

Encephalopathy 

Traumatic Brain Injury

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Let's Review!

Lesson 1: Classical Conditioning

Lesson 2: Operant Conditioning

Lesson 3: Observational and Cognitive Learning

Lesson 4: Encoding Memories

Lesson 5: Storage and Retrieval

Lesson 6: Challenges in Memory