Vicarious value learning by differential outcomes training: A social transfer of control methodology

Abstract

This article adapts an existing experimental protocol for assessing individuals’ ability to transfer knowledge across instrumental and pavlovian learning stages. The protocol ( Transfer of Control using differential outcomes learning) is adapted to fit social contexts wherein the pavlovian learning phase is modulated so that individuals are able to observe, and potentially learn from, the stimulus associated with reinforcing outcomes presented to another (observable) individual. Transfer of Control concerns participants combining knowledge of learned instrumental and pavlovian (stimulus, response, outcome) associations in order to ground the learning of new associations. The article describes the theoretical and procedural underpinnings of a novel Social Transfer of Control methodology. The use of such a methodology is two-fold: i) to serve as a guide to researchers interested in evaluating how individuals can learn from others in a partially observable setting, i.e. when behavioural and reinforcing outcome information is hidden, and bring to bear this knowledge on their own instrumental decision making; ii), to facilitate investigation of the routes of cognitive and emotional empathy, with potential applications for educational and clinical settings. Three stage Transfer of Control behavioural methodology is adapted to include a social (pavlovian) learning stage. Hypotheses can be tested that concern learning rewarding instrumental responses achieved by observation of others’ emotionally expressive reactions to differentially rewarding outcomes. Methodological and validation considerations for evaluating the above are presented