Application Paper

0714973

North Park University

PSYC 3100: Learning and

Cognition Dr. David J. Bennett

November 20, 2022

Intro to Learning

General Behavior Traits

General behavior traits are traits that are strongly influenced by genes. Temperament, anxiety, or

hostility can be examples of general behavior traits. Behavior traits occur in a wide range of

situations and are malleable. For example, In the first episode of Breaking Bad we see Walter

working at a car wash and he doesn’t seem too fond of his job there. Walter looks irritated by his

boss and starts to get aggressive. Walter loses his temper at work when his boss asks him to

wipe down something, and he starts ruining the items in there and swears at his boss. This shows

general behavior traits that Walter has aggression and temperament.

Reflexes

A reflex is a connection between a specific event and a simple initial response to that

event. Reflexes are not necessary to learn and can be unconscious. For example, when an

eyelash gets in our eye, our automatic reaction is to keep blinking and having to pick out our

eyelash because the sensation in our eye is uncomfortable. Reflexes can also be used to defend

an organism or an individual. When the two drug dealers pulled the gun at Walter, his first
reaction was to raise his hands and flee. Walter fled when they began shooting because he was in

danger, this was his instinctive reaction to help himself. Walter is using his reflexes by running

to protect himself from getting shot at.

Habituation

Perceptual Learning

Perceptual learning is repeated exposure with a set of stimuli that makes the stimuli easy

to distinguish. This helps make sense of what we see, hear, smell, etc. For example, being able to

distinguish different scents as a result of years working with perfumes. Walter is a chemistry

teacher, so he has been exposed to various flasks in his years of teaching. When one of his

former students, Jesse, brought them out of his trunk, he immediately knew which flasks could

boil and which could not. However, Jesse was not able to distinguish which flasks to use and

claims he has boiled the fluids in the flasks that should not be boiled. This is because Jesse has

not learned because he has not been exposed to this knowledge as long as Walter has.

Sensitization

Sensitization is after being exposed to unusually strong or painful stimulation; an

organism becomes more responsive to most stimuli. For example, when the bell rings the

students get up from their seats. Being exposed to the bell ringing means that class is what

instantly gets them up from their seat every time the bell rings. In the episode of Breaking Bad

when Walter was exposed to guns and drug dealers he was alarmed. When one of the drug

dealers moved close to Walter when he was showing them how to make his meth, he flinched

when one of the men just touched something.

Pavlovian Principles

Conditioned Emotional Response

Compound Stimulus

In the season 1 video of breaking bad, we see numerous examples of these principles at

work. For instance, when Walt first starts cooking meth, he uses the sound of a timer to pair with

the act of cooking the meth. This eventually leads to the timer becoming a conditioned stimulus

that triggers the cooking response. We also see operant conditioning at work when Walt uses

rewards (e.g. money) to reinforce the cooking behavior, and punishment (e.g. threats) to

discourage Jesse from quitting.

Classical conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus (e.g. the sound of a bell) is paired

with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. food) to produce a conditioned response (e.g. drooling). In

season 1 of Breaking Bad, Jesse is outside the house he's just robbed. He hears a police siren and

freezes in fear. This response is called an unconditioned response, because the sound of a police

siren triggers it without anything else happening beforehand. This was a scary experience for

Jesse because, in the past, whenever he heard that sound his drug-dealing partner would usually

have been killed by the time the police arrived.

Operant conditioning occurs when behavior is controlled by reinforcement or

punishment. A reinforcer is something that makes a behavior occur more often (e.g. money), and

the effects of reinforcement are said to be strengthened by repetition. A punisher is something

that makes a behavior occur less often (e.g. money), and the effects of punishment are said to be

weakened by removing an opportunity for reinforcement. In Breaking Bad, Walt's mother was a

huge fan of Walt.Classical and operant conditioning can be used together to produce more

complex behavior. Operant conditioning is used by Walt when he starts cooking meth. The

effects of each operant response (cooking, cutting, putting pieces in the barrel) are strengthened

by repetition until they become a habit.

Now that you've read both reviews and have done so correctly, it's time to test your

knowledge on the Breaking Bad subreddit! Just post your score in this thread with your

username. If you are interested in participating leave a comment below and I'll add you to the
spreadsheet for the next test. Lastly, we see classical and operant conditioning working together

when Walt uses the sound of the timer to trigger the cooking response, but also uses rewards and

punishment to reinforce or discourage certain behavior.

Operant I

Positive Punishment

The scene in question takes place when Walter White, the protagonist of the show, is trying to

get his former business partner Jesse Pinkman to cook methamphetamine with him. In order to

do this, Walter threatens to kill Jesse's girlfriend, Jane, if he does not comply. This is an example

of positive punishment, as Walter is using the threat of Jane's death to try and get Jesse to do

what he wants. The principle of positive punishment states that a behavior that is followed by a

negative consequence is less likely to occur in the future. In this case, Walter is trying to make it

so that the act of Jesse cooking meth is followed by the negative consequence of Jane's death.

This will hopefully make it so that Jesse is less likely to cook meth in the future. It should be

noted that this particular scene is a very extreme example of positive punishment. In most cases,

the negative consequence would not be something as severe as death. However, Walter is clearly

willing to go to great lengths to get what he wants, which makes this an effective example of the

principle.

Negative Reinforcer

The Pavlovian principles of negative punishment can be seen in the season 1 video of breaking

bad in a number of ways. For example, when Walter White is trying to cook meth for the first

time, he is constantly getting interrupted by his family. This leads to him becoming frustrated and

eventually giving up. This is an example of negative punishment, because Walter is being

punished (by not being able to cook meth) for his actions (interrupting his family). Another
example can be seen when Jesse Pinkman is trying to sell meth to a dealer. The dealer ends up

stealing his meth and Jesse is left with nothing. This is another example of negative punishment,

because Jesse is being punished (by not having any meth to sell) for his actions (trying to sell

meth to the dealer).

Operant II

Discrimination

When an organism engages in a specific behavior in the presence of a specific stimulus

(also known as a discriminative stimulus) but not in the presence of another stimulus, this is

referred to as discrimination. For example, being able to cuss in front of friends, but not at

church. In Breaking Bad, Walter would make meth in the van and take off his clothes before

getting in the van so he would not smell like meth. He did this so Skylar his wife would not

assume anything or smell something unusual. However, in front of Jesse he would make meth

but not in front of other stimuli, which is his wife.

Generalization

The Pavlovian Principles of generalization as seen in season 1 video of breaking bad can be best

explained by looking at the character of Jesse Pinkman. In the show, Jesse is shown to be a

recovering meth addict who is trying to stay clean. However, he is constantly tempted by his

former dealer, Walter White. Jesse is able to resist the temptation to use meth by using the

Pavlovian principle of generalization. This principle states that if an individual is exposed to a

stimulus (in this case, meth) and does not respond to it (by using it), then they will begin to

generalize this response to other similar stimuli (in this case, other drugs). In other words, Jesse

is able to resist the temptation to use meth because he has generalized his response of not using

drugs to all drugs.

Social Learning

The Pavlovian principles of social learning can be seen in the season 1 video of breaking bad in a

number of ways. For example, when Walter White is first introduced to the world of drug

dealing, he is shown to be a complete novice. He is then taught by his more experienced partner,

Jesse Pinkman, how to cook and sell meth. As Walter learns more about the drug trade, he begins

to imitate Jesse's behavior, eventually becoming a successful drug dealer himself. Another

example of the Pavlovian principles of social learning at work in the season 1 video of breaking

bad can be seen in the way that Walter and Jesse interact with their customers. At first, they are

both very nervous and unsure of themselves. However, as they gain more experience, they learn

how to better deal with their customers, and they eventually become much more confident and

successful in their business.

Influence of media

The Pavlovian Principles of influence of media as seen in season 1 video of breaking bad can be

best described by looking at how the media affects the characters in the show. For example,

when Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is first introduced, he is shown cooking meth in his

basement. The camera shows him from different angles, and the music is tense and foreboding.

This creates an immediate association between Walter and meth, and the audience is left with the

impression that Walter is a dangerous criminal. Later in the season, Walter is shown teaching his

son, Jesse (Aaron Paul), how to cook meth. The scene is shot in a more positive light, with the

music being more upbeat. This creates the impression that meth is not necessarily a bad thing,

and that it can be used for good.

The Pavlovian Principles of influence of media as seen in season 1 video of breaking bad suggest

that the media can have a powerful influence on how we view the world. The show demonstrates

how the media can create stereotypes and biased impressions that can lead to misunderstandings

and conflict.
Memory I

Episodic Memory and Maintenance Rehearsal

In the first season of Breaking Bad, we see several examples of episodic memory and

maintenance rehearsal. For instance, in the episode "Pilot", Walter White remembers a time

when he was a successful high school chemistry teacher. He then rehearses this memory by

telling his family how he was able to make a difference in his students' lives. In the episode

"Cancer Man", we see another example of episodic memory when Walt remembers his time

working in a car wash. Again, he rehearses this memory by recounting the story to his family.

These examples demonstrate how important maintenance rehearsal is for keeping our memories

alive.

Memory II

Encoding and Expertise

In the first season of Breaking Bad, we see a great deal of encoding and expertise. For example,

in the episode "Pilot", we see Walter White (Bryan Cranston) encoding a message into a piece of

paper that he then gives to his wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn). This is an example of his expertise as a

chemist, as he is able to encode the message in a way that only she will be able to understand it.

We also see Walter's expertise in the episode "Crazy Handful of Nothin'", when he cooks up a

batch of meth that is so pure, it is able to blow up a house. This is an example of his expertise as

a meth cook, as he is able to produce a product that is far superior to anything else on the market.

Memory III

Everyday Memory Permastore

In the first season of Breaking Bad, the Pavlovian principles of everyday memory and

permastore punishment are seen in the way Walter White remembers and punishes Jesse
Pinkman. Every time Jesse tries to leave the meth business, or disobey Walter's orders, Walter

uses Pavlovian principles to remind Jesse of the pain and suffering he will experience if he does

not obey. For example, when Jesse tries to leave the meth business, Walter shows him a video of

a meth lab exploding, reminding Jesse of the pain and suffering he will experience if he does not

obey. Similarly, when Jesse tries to disobey Walter's orders, Walter shows him a video of a man

being tortured, reminding Jesse of the pain and suffering he will experience if he does not obey.

In both cases, Walter is using Pavlovian principles to control Jesse's behavior.

 References

Gilgan, V., Slovis, M., & Burcksey, C. (Directors). (2008). Breaking Bad. Sony Pictures Television.

Pavlov, I. (2015). Present and Perspectives of the Adult Education Theory in the System of

Andragogical Sciences. Lifelong Learning, 5(1), 8–28. https://doi.org/10.11118/lifele201505018