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Learning and Behavior » (6th Edition)

Book cover image of Learning and Behavior by James E. Mazur

Authors: James E. Mazur
ISBN-13: 9780131931633, ISBN-10: 0131931636
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Date Published: April 2005
Edition: 6th Edition

Author Biography: James E. Mazur

Book Synopsis

A best seller revision in animal learning. Mazur retains hisemphasis on operant learning. New material reflects the trendto include human subjects in several different areasincluding classical conditioning, rule-governed behavior,biological preparedness stimulus control, and others.

Booknews

Textbook for undergraduate students assumes no prior knowledge of psychology. Describes principles, theories, controversies, and experiments relative to the applied field of behavior modification. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

	Preface
1	The Psychology of Learning and Behavior	1
	The Search for General Principles of Learning	2
	The Nature of Scientific Theories	4
	Behavioral and Cognitive Approaches to Learning	11
	On Free Will, Determinism, and Chaos Theory	16
2	Simple Ideas, Simple Associations, and Simple Cells	19
	Early Theories about the Association of Ideas	19
	Ebbinghaus's Experiments on Memory	23
	Physiological Facts and Theories Related to Associationism	27
3	Innate Behavior Patterns and Habituation	37
	Characteristics of Goal-Directed Systems	38
	Reflexes	39
	Tropisms and Orientation	40
	Sequences of Behavior	42
	Habituation	45
4	Basic Principles of Classical Conditioning	58
	Pavlov's Discovery and Its Impact	58
	Basic Conditioning Phenomena	67
	Temporal Relationships between CS and US	73
	Other Conditioning Arrangements	76
	Classical Conditioning Outside the Laboratory	78
5	Theories and Research on Classical Conditioning	87
	Theories of Associative Learning	88
	Types of Associations	99
	Biological Constraints on Classical Conditioning	103
	The Form of the Conditioned Response	110
	Physiological Research on Classical Conditioning	114
6	Basic Principles of Operant Conditioning	121
	The Law of Effect	121
	The Procedure of Shaping, or Successive Approximations	129
	The Research of B. F. Skinner	134
	Biological Constraints on Operant Conditioning	139
7	Reinforcement Schedules: Experimental Analyses and Applications	148
	Plotting Moment-to-Moment Behavior: The Cumulative Recorder	148
	The Four Simple Reinforcement Schedules	149
	Factors Affecting Performance on Reinforcement Schedules	156
	The Experimental Analysis of Reinforcement Schedules	160
	Applications of Operant Conditioning	165
8	Avoidance and Punishment	173
	Avoidance	174
	Learned Helplessness	184
	Punishment	186
	Behavior Decelerators in Behavior Therapy	192
9	Theories and Research on Operant Conditioning	202
	The Role of the Response	202
	The Role of the Reinforcer	203
	How Can We Predict What Will Be a Reinforcer?	212
	Behavioral Economics	221
10	Stimulus Control and Concept Formation	227
	Generalization Gradients	227
	Is Stimulus Control Absolute or Relational?	232
	Behavioral Contrast	238
	"Errorless" Discrimination Learning	240
	Transfer of Learning After Discrimination Training	242
	Concept Formation	244
	Stimulus Control in Behavior Modification	249
11	Comparative Cognition	253
	Memory	253
	Time, Number, and Serial Patterns	265
	Language and Reasoning	273
12	Learning by Observation	282
	Theories of Imitation	283
	Factors That Affect the Likelihood of Imitation	290
	Interactions Between Observational Learning and Operant Conditioning	291
	The Influence of Television	293
	What Can Be Learned through Observation?	295
	Modeling in Behavior Therapy	297
	Conclusions: The Sophisticated Skill of Learning by Observation	307
13	Learning Motor Skills	304
	The Variety of Motor Skills	304
	Variables Affecting Motor Learning and Performance	306
	Theories of Motor-Skill Learning	314
	Learning Movement Sequences	320
14	Choice	327
	The Matching Law	328
	Theories of Choice Behavior	335
	Self-Control Choices	344
	Other Choice Situations	351
	Glossary	358
	References	373
	Acknowledgments	419
	Author Index	423
	Subject Index	435