Course Description
Empirical phenomena and theories concerning basic forms of nonassociative and associative learning, primarily stimulus-stimulus and response-consequence associations. Phenomena include habituation, Pavlovian and operant conditioning, generalization and discrimination, concept formation, and choice behavior. Historical and comparative aspects of the subject are emphasized.
Athena Title
LEARNING PROCESSES
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in PSYC 6520
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should have learned: 1. To identify and express the major theoretical approaches to learning, primarily in non-human animals 2. To understand the major empirical findings in the field of learning, primarily in non-human animals 3. About current approaches and issues in the study of learning 4. To integrate current and major historical findings and theories 5. To understand the relationships between learning and other fields of psychology
Topical Outline
Topics may include: 1. Introduction and overview 2. History of learning approaches 3. Unconditioned behavior 4. Habituation and sensitization 5. Classical conditioning - phenomena 6. Classical conditioning - theoretical approaches 7. Instrumental conditioning 8. Stimulus control 9. Choice 10. Conditioned reinforcement 11. Avoidance and punishment 12. Animal cognition 13. Memory 14. Theories of reinforcement 15. Economic and decision - theoretic approaches to animal learning