I define a reflex as an inborn response to certain stimuli--and then immediately give examples of such. I then explain that these "inborn response-stimulus associations" all serve some type of survival mechanism so became wired into our nervous system.
Only after 35 years of teaching have I begun to describe classical conditioning as the "ACQUISITION OF A NEW STIMULUS--RESPONSE ASSOCIATION." This is the most accurate definition as clearly a new reflex has not been learned but, instead, an inborn reflex has been conditioned to be elicited by a new stimulus event. I developed a new class exercise to accommodate this new definition and attached a copy for those who might be interested. If it doesn't come through, feel free to ask for a copy--and feedback always welcomed. Joan On 2018-10-07 2:39 pm, Miguel Roig wrote: > Ken, I admit to have always (and I mean always) understood and explained > reflexes using Hall's definition and I usually cover the topic in the > chapters of development and also in the chapter of learning/conditioning, > especially with respect to distinguishing reflexes from fixed action > patterns. I suppose that such a simplistic definition may be, arguably, > acceptable and even desirable in an introductory textbook but perhaps not for > a more advanced learning course (I have not taught the latter in decades!). > If, as you point out, this confusion still exists in the textbook literature, > especially in learning texts, and no one has clarified it in recent years, I > would think that an essay on the subject targeted to, say, Teaching of > Psychology (ToP) would be welcomed and might even lead to desired changes in > how authors address this important concept. Then, again, as the cases of > Kitty Genovese and of Little Albert have shown over the years, some textbook > authors don't seem to r ead ToP or similarly relevant literature! > > And I have now reached my quota of posts for today. Sigh ... > > Miguel > ________________________________________ > From: Kenneth Steele [steel...@appstate.edu] > Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2018 1:04 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: Re: [tips] A question and a comment > > Hi Miguel: > > But here are some of the conundrums that you encounter with following the > Marshall Hall pathway. > > If a reflex is a simple, unlearned response to a stimulus then why do we talk > about conditioned reflexes as learned responses to a stimulus? Is a reflex > unlearned or learned? > > This position leads to the proposition that there are two kinds of reflexes: > learned and unlearned. Which leads to several questions. Isn't a learned > reflex an oxymoron? How do you discriminate between the two type of reflexes? > How do you know that your unlearned reflex isn't really a learned reflex, > since you can't see the history of its development? (This issue was a > favorite of the American Functionalists - the TC Schneirla crowd.) > > I see learning textbooks (and students) trap themselves in contradictory > statements, leaving everybody confused. I can point to specific paragraphs > in learning textbooks which define a reflex as unlearned and then in the next > sentence define a conditioned reflex as learned. It is no wonder that > students find classical conditioning as a confusing topic. > > You are correct that Hall's definition is the most popular. I send grad > students on a hunt through their subfields to find the most common > definition of a reflex and the Hall definition is the most popular, although > Marshall Hall is almost unknown as a name in psychology. I am not saying that > Skinner's solution is the best but that textbooks have left students (and a > bunch of faculty) feeling very confused. > > I am glad that you were able to find the article. Google can be so helpful > at times. > > Best regards, > > Ken > >> On Oct 7, 2018, at 12:33 PM, Miguel Roig <ro...@stjohns.edu> wrote: >> >> But, I like Hall's definition! And it is the definition for reflex that >> most introductory, and even some advanced textbooks, provide: A simple >> unlearned response to a stimulus. >> >> From the description provided by Schwarz, it seems as if he is using a >> 'looser' definition a la Skinner. But, yes, if you've already lost the >> ability to swallow ... WTH ... The quote is confusing!!! >> >> And thanks for the reference! Found it online via a simple Google search. ;-) >> >> Miguel >> ________________________________________ >> From: Kenneth Steele [steel...@appstate.edu] >> Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2018 10:20 AM >> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) >> Subject: Re: [tips] A question and a comment >> >> Hi Miguel: >> >> Few people understand that one reason that people have so much difficulty >> with the term 'reflex' is that there are several definitions of the term in >> use. Most people seem to be using Marshall Hall's definition (unconscious, >> unlearned, involuntary behavior). >> >> I recommend Skinner (1931) 'The concept of the reflex in the description of >> behavior' J. Gen. Psych., 5, 427-458, to help unravel some of these uses. >> Read his summary for the Cliff Notes version of the history. (There are >> other histories, too.) >> >> Back to your original question, the quote makes no sense. If someone has a >> dysfunctional swallowing reflex then putting food into that person's mouth >> is the worst thing you can do. The likely outcome is that the person will >> aspirate the food or liquid and choke. >> >> Ken >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. >> steel...@appstate.edu<mailto:steel...@appstate.edu> >> Professor >> Department of Psychology http://www.psych.appstate.edu >> Appalachian State University >> Boone, NC 28608 >> USA >> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> On Oct 7, 2018, at 9:39 AM, Miguel Roig >> <ro...@stjohns.edu<mailto:ro...@stjohns.edu>> wrote: >> >> Good morning, here is question for your: I was reading this article on the >> lack of coverage of dementia situations in advance directives, >> https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/well/live/an-advance-directive-for-patients-with-dementia.html >> (an interesting read in its own right) when I came upon the following >> quote: "People should at least understand what the normal process of >> advanced dementia is about," Dr. Schwarz said. "Feeding tubes are not the >> issue -- they're not done when dementia is terminal. Instead, a caregiver >> will stand patiently at the bedside and spoon food into your mouth as long >> as you open it. Opening your mouth when a spoon approaches is a primitive >> reflex that persists long after you've lost the ability to swallow and know >> what to do with what's put in your mouth." My question: Is Schwarz >> referring to the rooting reflex? If so, isn't touching the cheek necessary >> for the reflex to be triggered and, if that is the case then, isn't what he >> is describing a lea rned behavior, even if its strength lies in it being grounded on an earlier reflex or something to that effect? I would appreciate any clarification on this. >> >> And now a comment or, really, a heads-up that is unrelated to the above >> question and perhaps not even real news to most of us: It concerns an >> article and a documentary about the high price of academic publishing. The >> article by Richard Smith, former editor of the BMJ is freely available from >> the latest issue of the Lancet, though you need to register to get it, >> https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32353-5/fulltext. >> The article is based, in part on the documentary "Paywall". The video is >> over an hour long, but just the first 10 minutes will likely outrage even >> those who are already aware of the current state of academic publishing. You >> can check it out for free at: https://paywallthemovie.com/. >> >> Miguel >> >> This email may contain proprietary, confidential and/or privileged material >> for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, use, distribution >> or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended >> recipient (or authorized to receive for the recipient), please contact the >> sender by reply email and delete all copies of this message. >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: >> steel...@appstate.edu<mailto:steel...@appstate.edu>. >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13524.94845a3ed9806f1cef14973830dd8c39&n=T&l=tips&o=52866 >> or send a blank email to >> leave-52866-13524.94845a3ed9806f1cef14973830dd8...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-52866-13524.94845a3ed9806f1cef14973830dd8...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> >> >> --- >> >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: >> ro...@stjohns.edu<mailto:ro...@stjohns.edu>. >> >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=3343621.18283a1227eb73d1ce74b7f7163cf851&n=T&l=tips&o=52867 >> >> (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) >> >> or send a blank email to >> leave-52867-3343621.18283a1227eb73d1ce74b7f7163cf...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-52867-3343621.18283a1227eb73d1ce74b7f7163cf...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> >> >> This email may contain proprietary, confidential and/or privileged material >> for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, use, distribution >> or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended >> recipient (or authorized to receive for the recipient), please contact the >> sender by reply email and delete all copies of this message. >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: steel...@appstate.edu. >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13524.94845a3ed9806f1cef14973830dd8c39&n=T&l=tips&o=52868 >> or send a blank email to >> leave-52868-13524.94845a3ed9806f1cef14973830dd8...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: ro...@stjohns.edu. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=3343621.18283a1227eb73d1ce74b7f7163cf851&n=T&l=tips&o=52869 > or send a blank email to > leave-52869-3343621.18283a1227eb73d1ce74b7f7163cf...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > This email may contain proprietary, confidential and/or privileged material > for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, use, distribution > or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended > recipient (or authorized to receive for the recipient), please contact the > sender by reply email and delete all copies of this message. > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: jwarm...@oakton.edu. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752d0d&n=T&l=tips&o=52870 > or send a blank email to > leave-52870-49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=52873 or send a blank email to leave-52873-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
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