Week

Date

Topics

Bouton Reading
(do before class)

Notes

1

Tu -- Apr 1

WHAT IS LEARNING?
Course goals, importance of learning to other fields

Purchase textbooks

Th -- Apr 3

Origins of learning theory, definitions
Roots, early theorists, tools for analyzing behavior

Chap 1, p 1-36

2

Tu -- Apr 8

The function of adaptation, how learning affects survival

Chap 2, p 39-70

Th -- Apr 10

Chap 3, p 73-89

3

Tu -- Apr 15

Conditioned inhibition, contingencies, blocking

Chap 3, p 89-101

Th -- Apr 17

Theories of conditioning -- Rescorla-Wagner model

Chap 4, p 103-119

4

Tu -- Apr 22

Other models

Chap 4, p 119-142

Th -- Apr 24

The role of conditioning in behavior

Chap 5, p 145-183

5

Tu -- Apr 29

Contemporary views on classical conditioning -- Are the laws of conditioning general?

Chap 6, p 185-220

Th -- May 1

Midterm

None

Covers Ch 1-5, lectures & discussion

6

Tu -- May 6

INSTRUMENTAL & OPERANT LEARNING
Reinforcement learning

Chap 7, p 223-235

Th -- May 8

Schedules of reinforcement, Premack's principle

Chap 7, p 235-264

Begin reading book (choice of Skinner or Hayden)

Sniffy the Virtual Rat -- demonstration of principles of classical and instrumental (operant) learning

Th -- May 15

STIMULUS CONTROL
Stimulus generalization and discrimination

Chap 8, p 267-292

Tu -- May 20

Space and time in animals and people

Chap 8, p 292-327

Th -- May 22

No class today

Catch up with reading

Tu -- May 27

MOTIVATION OF VOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR
Drive theory, anticipation and frustration, opponent processes

Chap 9, p 329-369

Th -- May 29

TODAY'S SYNTHETIC PERSPECTIVE
Putting classical conditioning and instrumental conditioning together, avoidance learning (Mowrer)

Chap 10, p 371-395

Tu -- Jun 3

Learned helplessness, misbehavior, superstition, punishment

Chap 10, p 395-403

Th -- Jun 5

Cognitive approaches

Chap 10, p 403-419

 Papers due

Finals Week

Th -- Jun 12

FINAL EXAM -- 11:30-1:30 PM in regular classroom, please be on time