PSYCH 1X03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: General Idea, Puzzle Box, Mandelbrot Set
16 Dec 2016
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Process by which organisms learn contingencies b/w biologically important stimuli. Explicit training b/w voluntary behaviours and their consequences. Edward l. thorndike began investigations by placing cat in puzzle box. Put focus on overt behaviour rather than mental elements/conscious experiences. Puzzle box = small chamber w/ door --> could open by performing specific behaviour (i. e. , pulling a rope) Outside of box --> small dish of food --> provided motivation for hungry cat escape. Several trials with cat placed in box --> behaviours observed and recorded escape time. As animal struggles, it comes to solution of pulling on rope by accident. In trials following discovery of correct solution --> cat would escape immediately when placed in same puzzle box. Long escape times during initial trials, followed by dramatic step down in time to escape in later trials. Animals followed stimulus-response type process with little credit for consciousness. Animal working from long trial and error process of discovery.
