Human Development: InfancyBridget Nolan, Katherine Sprague &Regina Navejar

Infancy Learning Objectives

• Students will become familiar with two of the four basic learning processes in infancy.

• You will know you have learned the processes if you can explain and teach to another student: – Learning (the big picture) – Operant conditioning (cool operator) – Observational learning (I see, I learn)

• You will learn these two learning processes by: – Reviewing the terms (look for the terms) – Observing two videos and looking for the features of operant

conditioning and observational learning– Summarizing what you’ve learning to a classmate

Learning

I can think, perceive, or react to my environment in a new way.

Through my experiences—repetition, study, practice and observations, I can learn.

What I’ve really learned, I won’t forget. If I do, then I didn’t really “learn” it.

Basic Learning Processes in Infancy

Shaffer, D.R., & Kipp, K. (2010). Developmental psychology: childhood & adolescence . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive

DevelopmentSensorimotor Stage-

Birth to age 2

Puckett, M.B. , & Black, J.K. . (2007). Understanding infant behavior. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

Operant Conditioning“Cool Operator” and the learning process

• Operant Conditioning – Learner first emits a response– Associates this action with the pleasant or unpleasant consequences it

produces. • Memory (Hayne & Rovee-Collier, 1995)

– The length of time an infant is able to recognize and recall a previously learned task increases according to age (2 month old infants- 3 days vs. 3 month old infants- 1 week)

– Reminders helped infants– Context-dependant

• Social Significance of Early Operant Conditioning – Infant action– Seeks positive reaction from caring adult– Example- smiling infant (action) receives a positive reaction from an adult

who smiles in return (reaction) Shaffer, D.R., & Kipp, K. (2010). Developmental psychology: childhood & adolescence. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Operant conditioning“Cool Operator”

• Response-• Consequence-• Result-• Piaget: Secondary Circular

Motions (4-10 Months) – Intentionally repeats

behaviors or enjoyable actions

• Operant Conditioning: – Infant repeats action to

favorable responsePuckett, M.B. , & Black, J.K. . (2007). Understanding infant behavior. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

If you can not view it on this PowerPoint, please go to the YouTube video

Click on black screen

Observational Learning“I see, I learn”

• Learning that results from observing the behavior of others• Cognitive form of observational learning:

– Observer attends carefully to the model– Constructs symbolic representations (images or verbal summaries of the model’s

behavior) • Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (pg 49)

– Observational Learning• Attention- the learner observes • Retention- retain by creating symbolic representations• Reproduction- converts images into action• Motivation- reinforcement or punishment

• Deferred Imitation– Intentionally repeats behaviors: secondary circular reactions and coordination of

secondary schemes- 8-12 months (Piaget, 1951) – By age 9 months, some infants can imitate very simple acts up to 24 hours after they

first observe them (Meltzoff, 1988c) Shaffer, D.R., & Kipp, K. (2010). Developmental psychology: childhood & adolescence. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Observational Learning“I see, I learn”

Albert Bandura• Attention- the learner observes • Retention- retain by creating symbolic

representations• Reproduction- converts images into action• Motivation- reinforcement or punishmentJean PiagetCoordination of Secondary Schemes (10-12

months): • Applies previously learned behaviors and

activities to new situations; copying behaviors begin

Observational Activity1. Is the learner paying attention to the model? 2. Did the learner reproduce image into action? 3. What appears to be the motivation of the

learner?

Go to YouTube to view if you’re not able to see it here.

Puckett, M.B. , & Black, J.K. . (2007). Understanding infant behavior. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

Click on black screen