Law of Effect and Operant Conditioning

Edward Thorndike:

1. Explain Thorndike's puzzle-box experiment.
He put hungry cats on a puzzle box, and a plate of fish on the outside, and the cat by trial-and-error achieved to open the box and get the food.
2. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Effect".
An organism will relate a behavior with its reward, and the closer they are it is most likely that they are connected.
3. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Exercise".
That if a behavoir is used, it will continue and it will reinforce, but if it is not used, it will disapear.
B.F. Skinner:

1. Explain Skinner's concept of Operant Conditioning He said that it is sinmpler to break a complicated procedure into small steps, to achieve a greater goal.
2. What does  reinforcement always do?
It makes a behavoir continue. 
3. What does a punishment alsways do?
It makes a behavoir to disapear.
4. Explain the difference between "postive" and "negative" as they are used in opernat conditioning.
Positive means to give something, and negative means to take something.



Source:

http://psychology.about.com/od/lindex/g/lawofeffect.htm

Ivan Pavlov and John Watson Classical Conditioning

1. What was Pavlov actually studying when he developed his theory of classical conditioning?
digestive enzymes
Explain (in detail) how Pavlov's experiment was conducted.
Measured amounts of food where brought to dogs, the dogs salivated before the food was brought because they associated the food with the noise.
3. Identify the conditioned stimulus, the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned response from Pavlov's experiment.
conditioned stimulus: the bell; unconditioned stimulus: food; conditioned response: the dog's saliva
4. Explain what extinction means in relation to classical conditioning.
a weakening and dissapearance of the CR tendency
5. Explain what stimulus generalization means in relation to classical conditioning.
a response to a stimulus that is associated to other stimuli that occurs to other stimuli.
6. Explain what sstimulus discrimination means in relation to classical conditioning.
to learn how to respond to one stimulus
7. Explain at least two limitations of this experiment.
he had to re-route the dogs salivary glands, and he only tested 2 dogs
8. Explain what Pavlov theorized about how we learn.
that we learn by associating things.

Source:

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1904/pavlov-bio.html


http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/misc_topics/pavlov.html

John B. Watson:
1. Explain (in detail) how Watson's "Little Albert" study was conducted.
he got a small kid and exposed him to rats and other furry objects, the kid did not have any reaction. Then they put the same things but they made a sound by hitting a metal pipe, this time the boy cried. After this, the little boy got scared by just seeing the object.
2. Identify the conditioned stimulus, the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned response from Watson's study
conditioned: rat; unconditioned: the sound; conditioned response: fear.
3. Explain at least two limitations of this study.
he only tested one kid and that it can not be replicated
4. Explain Watson's law of frequency.
it talks about the importance of repetition
5. Explain Watson's law of recency.
the response that occured most recently
6. Explain the basic assumptions of behaviorism according to Watson.
that you could change anyone if they changed their behavior.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Watson


http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm

Summary Article #3

This article says that according to a research students who feel more alert and do their best work later in the day, have lower sleep hygiene scores. Sleep hygiene is the group of behaviors linked to good sleep and alertness. This includes having a regular bed time routine, a regular wake and bed time, and a comfortable bed to sleep in. According to the research students that have a poor sleep hygiene, have low GPA (grade point average). Results indicate that evening types had a significantly lower grade point average that morning and intermediate types. The evening types slept forty one minutes less than the other types. Many students have deterioration in sleep hygiene during their transition from high school to college. The authors of the study stated that educating high school students about poor sleep hygiene will improve academic performance.

Summary Article #2

This article says that students with a delayed start time sleep longer, and report less daytime sleepiness. This study was focused on 259 high school students who completed a School Sleep Habits questionnaire. Before the school delay, the students sleeping mean was of 7.03 hours per school night, with an average bed-time of 10:52 p.m. and an average wake-up time as 6:12 a.m. According to the results, the school started 45 minutes later than usual, the students slept a significantly longer amount of time. These changes were on all age groups of the school. Many students reported no sleepiness during school days. The students utilized 83 percent of the 40 minute delay given sleeping. It is recommended that teenagers get at least nine hours of sleep per night.

Summari Article #1

A recent study shows that when schools start one hour later, students increased their hours of sleep, and decreased their catch up sleep in the weekends. This created fewer automobilistic accidents with students. The percentage of students who got at least eight hours of sleep per weeknight increased from 35.7 % to 50%. Students who got at least nine hours of sleep also increased from 6.3 % to 10.8 %. There were many more crashes prior to the change in class start time.

The Teenage Brain

After watching this movie I learned many things. I now know that a regular teenager needs from 9-12 hours of sleep every day. Also, I learned that during those years, teenagers tend to feel bothered by their parents and usually go against what they say. Some schools think that it is convenient to start classes later than normal, this is so that students get enough resting time. I  believe that it is better for students that school starts later than normal because in that way students will have more rest and get better grades. This will help students improve their grades and be more active in class. Even though this plan can have a negative effect on after school activities, I believe that this is indeed convenient. Also, it is normal for teens to feel that their parents hate him or go against him. This is because parents are trying to guide their children in the right direction, while they believe that they hate him or go against him for punishing him. All of this is caused because the teenager's brain is developing and it has not fully developed into an adult's brain. It was very interesting to watch this video and I learned many things.

source:

http://www.posterlovers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6180

How our Brains Work

1. What does the word "hemisphere" refer to when talking about the brain?
The brain  is divided into two hemisphere, the left side and the right side.

2. What are the major differences between the left and right sides of the brain?
The right side controls remembering, understanding, and the positioning of things. While the left side controls the use of language and understanding it.


3. What is the corpus collasum?
It is what connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

4. Explain the study performed by Paul Broca in which he discovered "Broca's Area."
The Broca Area is named after Pierre Broca when he made a study on a patient that died without having the ability to talk. He examined the patients brain. 


5. Explain the study conducted by Roger Sperry in regard to "split brain."
The split brain was discovered in a research made by Roger Sperry and his colleagues who discovered that people with specific areas damaged would not be able to speak. 

6. Explain the study conducted by Karl Wernicke which led to the discovery of Wernicke's Area."
Karl Wernicke discovered that this area of the brain is involved in the understanding of language. It  has to do with the processing of things that we hear.

7. Which lobe is most responsible for vision?
Occipital Lobe

8. Which lobe is most responsible for hearing and language?
Temporal Lobe

9. Which lobe is most responsible for performing math calculations?
Parietal Lobe

10. Which lobe is most responsible for judgment, reasoning and impulse control?

Frontal Lobe






Source:




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_brain

Phineas Gage

1. Who was Phineas Gage?
Phineas Gage was an American railroad construction manager. He is most remembered by a suprising survival of a terrible accident. During this accident he suffered many brain damage. This injury caused him to have changes in behavior and personality.The changes were so drastic that his friends did not see him as he was before. Phineas was born on July 9 of 1823 and died on May 21 1860.

2. Describe the event which caused his injury.
His terrible accident in which a large iron rod went completely through his head. This destroyed much of his brains left frontal lobe. When he was 25 years of age, he and his working gang had to blast a rock. His duty was to add blasting powder, sand, and a fuse, snd then compact them with the iron rod. The powder exploded and the rod went into his head.

3. What happened to him as a result of his injuries?
His frontal left lobe was destroyed. Also, he lost his left eye and had a scar on his forehead. Also, he had partial paralysis of his face. He had brain damage that caused him to change his behavior.

4. What did we learn about the brain based on this case study?
We learned that you can damage your brain and not die, but have mental problems further one. Also, that every part of the brain has a specific function.

5. Explain the idea of brain localization?
Brain  localization are the different parts of the brain and the functions that every part have in your body.

6. Explain the concept of brain lateralization?
The brain is divided into to different sections

Criminal Behavior Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Does criminal behavior come from nature or nurture? Nature refers to the genetic characteristics that you attain from your genes. Meaning that it is passed on by your ancestors. While nurture on the other hand, refers to the environment you live in. The characteristics that you attain that come from what is around you. The question is does criminal behavior come from genes, rather than environment. Studies have revealed that both genes and environment contribute to criminal behavior in a person. Studies demonstrate that having a genetic predisposition for criminal behavior, but if they are exposed to a criminal or anti-social behavior, than the chances of criminal behavior is higher. The nature vs. nurture debate has many influences in the criminal behavior of an individual.

Many murderers have had a record of family violence, or a criminal environment. Most criminals have been raped, abused, mistreated, abandoned, etc. All of this actions that murderers have suffered are the cause of all the horrific crimes that they have committed. A bad environment can cause brain damage in any person. This will create madness in a person and create traumas in their brain.  All of these environmental history that causes trauma in a person's brain is not the only explanation for criminal behavior. There is evidence that demonstrates that not always crime committers have had a bad environment. Many genetical issues have also been the cause of brain damage in a criminal. Many scientific research has proven that many criminals are born already with a propensity for violence. Also, research has proven that some people are born with brain abnormalities that cause criminal behavior. Scientists have come to the conclusion that criminal behavior is a combination of both nature and nurture. Enviroment and genes are responsible for criminal behavior. Criminals who are proven guilty but have psychological damage, do not receive the same punishment than other criminals who don't in most cases. This is because these criminals with brain damage are not conscious of what they are doing because of their abnormality. Nature and Nurture both contribute in the mind of a criminal.


In conclusion, environment and genes both make a criminal do the crimes they commit. Environment, or nurture, in a criminal, is when the criminal suffered abuse or trauma in their brain while they grew up. While on the other hand, nature, or genes, in a criminal, are the traits and traumas that their ancestors have passed on to them. Even though, trauma or brain damage, is not an excuse for a criminal for what they did. I believe that all murderers should receive the punish that they deserve, independently if they have brain trouble.

Sources:


http://www.google.hn/imgres?imgurl=http://www.enregistrersous.com/images/84032093220070627231725.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gamespot.com/users/ElSatanno/&usg=__3iWTHe72_v8EK-nwkfWlwoTn6ug=&h=314&w=420&sz=28&hl=es&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=6jMoVGNDYyjDDM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=206&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcriminal%2Bbehavior%26hl%3Des%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1283%26bih%3D616%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=791&vpy=88&dur=108&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=166&ty=92&ei=HpmJTIysKYH68AbHt7TkAQ&oei=EJmJTP_QBZPK9gSU5dWEBg&esq=5&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0


http://www.google.hn/imgres?imgurl=http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/cases/case25/mr1/012.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/burn-attorney/burn-brain-damage-lawyer.html&usg=__mAoK-MujzGV5t0azLbWgD9LRx-A=&h=256&w=256&sz=32&hl=es&start=41&zoom=1&tbnid=L9AmC3p6_gGMoM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrain%2Bdamage%26hl%3Des%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1283%26bih%3D616%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1003&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=415&ei=sZmJTK6kLoL_8Abd-onGCQ&oei=bZmJTJyCO4749ATCkoSmBg&esq=4&page=3&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:41&tx=83&ty=71&biw=1283&bih=616


http://www.deviantcrimes.com/nature_nurture.htm

Nature vs. Nurture debate

The Nature vs. Nurture term was first used by Francis Galton.  He was an English Victorian polymath. He was inspired by the book, "Origin of Species" that was written by his cousin, Charles Darwin. The narture vs. nurture debate talks about the importance of someones innate qualities versus personal experiences in causing or determining individual diferences in someones behavior and physical traits. This debate is very controvertial. Behavior genetics are known as "Nurture". Shared family factors is an example of the  "Nurture" term.While "Nature" term is genetical traits. Things that are passed on to you by your ancestors such as hair and eye color. Nature can be thought of as genetics and nurture can be seen as the enviorment someone is in.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.adoptionblogs.com/media/FosterAdoption/nature_nurture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fost-adopt.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/nature-vs-nurture-this-mom-s-view&h=241&w=234&sz=13&tbnid=zV8SUPNXu7-W5M:&tbnh=110&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnature%2Bvs.%2Bnurture%2Bimages&zoom=1&q=nature+vs.+nurture+images&hl=en&usg=__8cNXwbVzFu9Md3MDP2rCTzQ6Qxc=&sa=X&ei=mc-BTM68IoS0lQfSl7CbDw&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAg

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u203/Nature_versus_Nurture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/homo-consumericus/200811/are-consumers-born-or-made-both&usg=__GmGun3p9MpQkDbLCC2hUoW8tEA8=&h=456&w=590&sz=36&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=oU8Y_vpHddI3JM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=204&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnature%2Bvs.%2Bnurture%2Bimages%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1283%26bih%3D616%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C67&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=490&ei=-8-BTKSDNIGC8gbQ-dyQAQ&oei=58-BTNTcL4TGlQfe6oCzDg&esq=6&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=60&ty=36&biw=1283&bih=616

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who stated that all species have descended over time. Also, he stated the scientific theory that this pattern of evolution came from a process he named natural selection. Darwin published his theory for evolution in 1859 in a book called "On the Origin of Species". His book was supported by many evidence that proved his theory. The general public came to accept his theory. Charles Darwin was puzzled with geographical distribution of wildlife and fossils he collected on a voyage, and he started to investigate the transmutation of species and formed his theory of natural selection.  Darwin's theory was not accepted by the Church and while his family went to church on Sundays, he would got to the park for a walk. People saw Darwin as an Atheist, even though he did not consider himself as one. Charles scientific discovery is considered the unifying theory of the life sciences, explaining the diversity of life. Many unfortunate events in his life, like his youngest son's death impacted his life and work alot. Charles Darwin died in 1882.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin#Religious_views

   

What is Psychology and why is it important?

Psychology is the scientific study of mental operations and behavior. It also is the use of knowledge and understanding. Psychology has many sub topics, such as, human development, sports, education, physical condition, buisness, and media. Psychology is important because it has to do with mental process and human behavior. Psychology applies to everything in the human life. Psychology studies who we are, why we act and think like that. Psychology also helps in many life-threatiening diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson as well.

                                                        Psychology is used to treat a disease called Alzheimer's.

Sources:

-http://hubpages.com/hub/Psychology-and-its-Importance

-http://alzheimersinfo.info/alzheimer/alzheimer-11.jpg

-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://oldweb.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/psychology/Psychology.gif&imgrefurl=http://oldweb.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/psychology/Information_and_Requirements.htm&usg=___JLIoHUWVj9ntAuaJ6jxgtxc8eg=&h=251&w=290&sz=21&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=A-HSaX8LvxsQmM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpsychology%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R2ADRA_enHN356%26tbs%3Disch:1