What did you learn from the slides?

Chapter 5

 In chapter 5, I learnt that animal intelligence can be measured through learning procedures.  In studying animal intelligence, it is important to understand that behavior produces two consequences namely; satisfying state and annoying state of affairs (Chapter 5). The behavior and its consequences create the Law of Effect which states that a consequence of behavior determines the strength of a behavior.  In measuring the intelligence, there are two basic procedures known as positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.  The latter means that a behavior is followed by a stimulus and in this case the stimulus acts as a positive reinforce since it will positively affect the behavior in future (Chapter 5).  An organism needs the positive reinforcement so that it can increase intensity. The former, which is negative reinforcement, means that there is a removal of stimulus and the stimulus acts as a negative reinforce which helps an organism in escape. Other important thing which I learnt is that operant learning is affected by various variables.  First, contingency affects operant learning in that when behavior is consistent to reinforcement, then there are high chances that behavior will occur. Second, contiguity explains the time difference between the organism behavior and the basic procedures.  Third, reinforce characteristic affects the learning in terms of the size of the reinforcement (Chapter 5). Last but not least, deprivation level variable means that the effectiveness is achieved with respect to the deprivation of reinforces. In this chapter, I also learnt about the theories of reinforcement.  First relative value theory asserts that reinforcement not only acts as stimuli but also as a behaviors.  Second, response deprivation theory asserts that   organism should avoid normal frequency in reinforcement so that behavior can be become reinforcing. Third, Two-process theory asserts that negative reinforcement  which is also known as escape training asserts that avoidance is also explained by Pallovian and Operant conditioning (Chapter 5).  The last theory is one-Process theory which asserts that only operant conditioning   is responsible in explaining escape and avoidance.

 

 

Chapter 7

           

In this chapter, I have learnt that operant learning procedures are fundamental as they help in veterinary services of captive animals.  In this case, positive reinforcing unlike negative reinforcement is used in   animal caring and training.  Under this topic of operant application, operant learning procedures are used in animal caring and training and they are applied in various areas (Chapter 7). First, it is used in self-awareness. Animals are trained to have self-awareness through internal reflection. Second, animals are trained on self-control through physical restraint, distancing and more. Third, animals are trained on verbal behavior and this is closely related with social environment. Both behavior and social environment shapes the verbal behavior. In other words, operant learning shapes the language development.  Third, operant learning helps animals in solving insightful problems (Chapter 7). When there is availability of reinforcement and organism is unable to receive reinforcement, they solve problems through trial and error. Through discovering the problem, they receive insightful problem solving. Operant learning also help animals in creativity.  In this case, reinforcement is applied as it determines the level of creativity. Other important point in this chapter is self-injurious behavior. In operant learning, veterinaries train animals in eliminating unwanted behaviors (Chapter 7).

Chapter 6

This chapter talks about operant punishment and both punishment and reinforcement are fundamental in lessening the behavior strength.  They both assert that there are either positive or negative consequences out of a behavior. Second, the behavior has the capability to increase or to decrease and third, the consequence of a behavior is as a result of change in strength of a behavior (Chapter 6). The chapter asserts that there are three variables which affect punishment namely contingency where cause and effect of punishment is required, contiguity which is the   time difference between behavior and punishment and punisher intensity where the level of intensity matters.  I have also learnt that there are theories which explain punishment.  The first is process theory which asserts that operant learning and Pavlovian are responsible in explaining punishment (Chapter 6).  The chapter introduces another important topic known as the Biology of Memory. In this part, I have learnt that Neuron is made by four parts namely Soma, Dendrites, Axon and Synapse.  In addition, the nervous system is made up by two cells called Glial which comprises 90% and Neurons which make 10%.  I was also interested in learning how neurons work and I learnt that they work in neural communication, terminating synaptic activity, resting potential and action potential (Chapter 6). Neuron also work in Long-term Potentilaition-neural change in learning, Long-term Depression-a presynaptic which controls the LTP  and Synaptic Change-which is controlled by LTP though boosting receptor sensitivity (Chapter 6).

 

 

 

 

Reference

Operant Reinforcement. Chapter 5

Operant Application. Chapter 7

Operant Punishment. Chapter 6