Learning and Behavior

Known for his clear and engaging writing style, James E. Mazur's text examines how learning takes place everywhere, by animals of all species and people of all ages. Introducing students to key research from the field, Mazur uses pedagogcial tools to help readers comprehend and apply the material. New learning objectives start each chapter and clearly lay out the content; in chapter quizzes and review questions help readers apply the material; finally the end of text glossary is a useful tool for defining the key terms.

Table of Contents:
  1. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR   The Search for General Principles in Learning   The Nature of Scientific Theories   Behavioral and Cognitive Approaches to Learning   On Free Will, Determinism, and Chaos Theory   Summary   Review Questions  2. SIMPLE IDEAS, SIMPLE ASSOCIATIONS, AND SIMPLE CELLS Early Theories about the Association of Ideas Ebbinghaus's Experiments on Memory Physiological Facts and Theories Related to Associationism Summary Review Questions 3. INNATE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND HABITUATION Characteristics of Goal-Directed Systems Reflexes Tropisms and Orientation Sequences of Behavior Innate Human Abilities and Predispositions Habituation Summary Review Questions 4. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CLASSICAL CONDITIONING Pavlov's Discovery and Its Impact Basic Conditioning Phenomena The Importance of Timing in Classical Conditioning Higher Order Conditioning Classical Conditioning Summary Review Questions 5. THEORIES AND RESEARCH ON CLASSICAL CONDITIONING Theories of Associative Learning Types of Associations Biological Constraints on Classical Conditioning The Form of the Conditioned Response Physiological Research on Classical Conditioning Summary Review Questions 6. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OPERANT CONDITIONING The Law of Effect The Procedure of Shaping, or Successive Approximations The Research of B.F. Skinner Biological Constraints on Operant Conditioning Summary Review Questions 7. REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES: EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSES AND APPLICATIONS Plotting Moment-to-Moment Behavior: The Cumulative Recorder The Four Simple Reinforcement Schedules Factors Affecting Performance on Reinforcement Schedules Applications of Operant Conditioning Summary Review Questions 8.    AVOIDANCE AND PUNISHMENT Avoidance Learned Helplessness Punishment Behavior Decelerators in Behavior Therapy Summary Review Questions 9. THEORIES AND RESEARCH ON OPERANT CONDITIONING The Role of the Response The Role of the Reinforcer How Can we Predict What Will be a Reinforcer? Behavioral Economics Summary Review Questions 10. STIMULUS CONTROL AND CONCEPT FORMATION Generalization Gradients Is Stimulus Control Absolute or Relational? Behavioral Contrast "Errorless" Discrimination Learning Transfer of Learning after Discrimination Training Concept Formation Stimulus Control in Behavioral Modification Summary Review Questions 11. COMPARATIVE COGNITION Memory and Rehearsal Time, Number, and Serial Patterns Language and Reasoning Summary Review Questions 12. LEARNING BY OBSERVATION Theories of Imitation Factors that Affect the Likelihood of Imitation Interactions Between Observational Learning and Operant Conditioning Media Violence and Aggression Behavior What Can be Learned Through Observation? Modeling in Behavioral Therapy Conclusions: The Sophisticated Skill of Learning by Observation Summary Review Questions 13. LEARNING MOTOR SKILLS The Variety of Motor Skills Variables Affecting Motor Learning and Performance Theories of Motor-Skill Learning Learning Movement Sequences Summary Review Questions 14. CHOICE The Matching Law Theories of Choice Behavior Self-Control Choices Other Choice Situations Summary Review Questions Glossary References Acknowledgments Author Index Subject Index  

About the Author :
James E. Mazur obtained his B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College in 1973, and his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Harvard University in 1977. He taught at Harvard University as an assistant professor and associate professor from 1980 to 1988, and since then he has taught at Southern Connecticut State University, where he is a CSU Professor of Psychology. He has conducted research on operant conditioning and choice for over 35 years. He has published over 60 journal articles and chapters on such topics as reinforcement schedules, conditioned reinforcement, self-control, risk-taking, procrastination, and mathematical models of choice.