PSYC 301 Chapter 7: Chapter 7- The Principles of Learning and Behaviour (animal learning)

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 301
• Professor: anne almey

Document Summary

Causal reflection suggests that individuals perform instrumental responses because they are motivated to obtain the goal or reinforcer that results from the behaviour. The motivation of instrumental behaviour has been considered from two different perspectives: Thorndike analysis of the associative structure of instrumental conditioning. Relies on the concept of associations and is compatible with the theoretical tradition of pavlovian conditioning. Associative structure takes a molecular perspective focuses on individual responses and the specific stimulus antecedents and outcomes of those responses. The associative approach examines instrumental learning in isolated behavioural preparations. Because associations can be sustained in the ns, the associative approach also provides a convenient framework for studying the neural mechanisms of instrumental conditioning. Considers instrumental conditioning with the broader context of the numerous activities that organisms are constantly doing. Concerned with how an instrumental conditioning procedure limits an organism"s free flow of activities and the consequences of this limitation.