Can humans unlearn?

Question

Can humans unlearn?

In Artificial Intelligence, if you create a genetic algorithm (which is an algorithm that learns through progressive evolution) to guide an imaginary person from point A to point B through a maze, the algorithm will most times learn a successful path. Nevertheless, there are times when the algorithm will fail to evolve properly, and the artificial person will get stuck in some corner. To correct this, you need to role back the algorithm a certain number of steps. Using this as an analogy, in many ways we as individuals learn through trial and error, progressing through life with an evolving perspective on our environment in turn leading us from point A to point B. But what happens when we get stuck.. ? Is there a way to unlearn either at a physical level (neural) or at a cognitive level?

Answer 1

Yeah, we can. It's not really unlearning. We just learn a better alternative.

Answer 2

It's like video games where you explore territory. Sometimes, you go in the wrong direction and have to retrace your steps, but sometimes it's useful for something else later on in the Quest.

Unlearning is just like uninstalling on a computer. Sometimes when you uninstall some of the files can't be deleted because they're embedded. If you do delete them, sometimes it will leave gaps or rip holes in the program.

The way software is uninstalled is the same way with other things where when you rip them off of whatever they're stuck to, you'll get residue.

When you unlearn, you'll have some informationa residue left over from what you unlearned because you weren't able to get all of it out. It's kind of like a stain on a carpet where you can get most of it out, but you can still see a outline of where the stain used to be.

Sometimes you're lucky and can find the correct cleaning agent to completely remove the stain so that it's no longer visible to the naked eye. Other times, there's not much you can do and where it will remain a part of the carpet.

The mind is very much like a carpet.

And on that note, that's why people who think about sex all the time would have a Shag Carpet :).

Answer 3

I Believe humans can "write thier own " programing/reprograming
One can lose information+/or be shocked E.S.T and forget.But to unlearn ? No . To unlearn one would have to undo the experience.
At this time I know of no way to do this . Hope this helps.
R.T.Wisomhog
When I get stuck I tend to think about it myself then ask around .
We all have life lessons we are ,have,and will learn. You may be suprised how many know the lesson even when they didn't think of it as one at that time.

Answer 4

Alcoholics do it all the time they become clean therefore unlearning how to drink at social gatherings, one must want this though.

Also some people who suffer strokes have to relearn speach, how to walk depending on the area traumatized in the brain or the type of trombosis they sufferred. Someone who becomes blind from an accident for example has to relearn how to cope and live in a society sightless. In order to relearn things one must have unlearned things they knew already don't you think.

Answer 5

well, I don't understand too much of what u r talking about, but I do know for a FACT some humans must "lose" intelligence at times because I swear over the past few years I feel dummer than I used to. I'm not trying to be funny, I'm serious. I used to consider myself halfway intelligent of at least basic things and now it seems that every day I forget how to do things and I can't remember things ect. I am only 27.

Answer 6

Yes. Cognitive psychotherapy states that there are three stages to changing behavior. First, learn the behavior, second, unlearn it, and third, re-learn a new behavior. A person can learn to smoke, unlearn the habit of smoking, and re-learn a new behavior (often one that conflicts with the behavior you want to eliminate).

Answer 7

It sure seems that way with men -as soon as they get married .

Answer 8

wait until your 50.

Answer 9

sure..when you "break" a bad habit..."negative re-inforcement" is sometimes used...