Introduction and Domjan Chapter 1
P2 What is learning? Can you think of a behavior that does not involve
learning?
Why is learning not simply a change in behavior over time?
P3 Explain Dualism. Lecture/text: In Domjan’s definition, learning involves a change in the mechanisms
of behavior. Why might he have
avoided saying that learning involves a change in behavior? What is Occam’s razor? How does
if differ from Morgan’s canon of parsimony? Give an example of how some characteristics exist today in animals but were
not selected for in evolution? What were Aristotle's rules of association?
General introductory questions What circumstances might give rise to the evolution of learning ability? What are the 3 main elements of the theory of evolution by natural selection?
P3 What is a reflex?
P7Describe the experiments that showed that animal spirits did not cause
reflexes.
P9-10 Explain the way in which Darwin’s work changed our ideas about the
relationship between humans and other species.
P12-13What do you think the advantages and disadvantages might be for studying
animal models of human behavior?
P14 Now, again, what is learning?
P14-15 Explain the learning-performance distinction and give some examples of
performance factors (e.g. “ I didn’t do well on the exam because
…”)
P15 Give some examples of how fatigue and maturation can affect behavior.
Why are these not examples of learning?
P18 What is the general process approach to the study of learning?
P25-26 What are some alternatives to the use of live animals in research?When
do you think they would or would not be useful?