“Learning”

SWATI BANSAL,
ASST. PROFESSOR,
SGI, GR. NIDA.
 Learning

Definition and determinants of

learning
Theories of learning.
 Classical conditioning theory.
 Operant conditioning theory.

 Cognitive learning theory.

 Social learning Theory.

 Learning: Definitions

“learning may be defined as a relatively permanent

change in behavior that occurs as a result of prior
experience.”
“Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent
change in behavior potentially that results from
reinforced practice or experience.”
 Features of Learning

 Learning involves change.

 Change must be relatively permanent.
 Not all changes reflect learning.
 Learning is reflected in behavior.
 The change in behavior occur as a result of experience, training, or
practice.
 The practice or experience must be reinforced in order for learning to
become stable.
 Learning occurs through out one’s life.
 Theories of learning

Classical Conditioning Theory: this

theory is the result of experiments done
by Russian Psychologist Ivan Pavlov in
the early 1900s.
Classical conditioning is a type of
conditioning in which an individual
responds to some stimulus that would
not ordinarily produce such a response.
Classical conditioning theory: The Experiment

Pavlov presented a piece of meat to a dog, the dog

exhibited a noticeable increase in salivation. When
Pavlov withheld the presentation of meat and merely
rang a bell, the dog did not salivate. Then Pavlov
proceeded to link the meat and the ringing of bell.
After repeatedly hearing the bell before getting the
meat, the dog begun to salivate as soon as the bell
rang. After a while the dog would salivate merely at
the sound of the bell, even if no meat was offered.
 Operant conditioning/ Instrumental Conditioning

Operant conditioning theory is given by B. F. Skinner.

Operant behavior means voluntary or learned
behavior. They are called operant behavior because
they operate on the environment.
Operant conditioning argues that behavior is a
function of its consequences. And how we behave in
the future will depend on what those consequences are.

If the behavior have pleasant effect, is more likely to be

repeated In future.
 Cognitive theory of learning

Proposed by Tolman and Kohler

Learning is a cognitive process. Cognitive process
assumes that people are conscious, active
participants how they learn. Cognition refers to an
individual’s ideas, thoughts, knowledge,
interpretations, understandings, etc., about himself
and his environment.
A response to behaviourism, people are not
“programmed animals” that merely respond to
environmental stimuli; people are rational beings
that require active participation in order to learn,
and whose actions are a consequence of thinking.
Changes in behaviour are observed, but only as an
indication of what is occurring in the learner’s head.
Cognitive uses the metaphor of the mind as
computer: information comes in, is being processed,
and leads to certain outcomes
 Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory emphasizes the ability of an

individual to learn by observing others.
Social learning is learning achieved through the
reciprocal interaction b/w people, behavior and their
environment. Social learning theory integrates the
cognitive and operant approaches to learning.
People can learn through observation and direct
experience.
 Types of Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement
 Following a response with something pleasant is called positive
reinforcement.
Negative reinforcement
 Removing an unpleasant consequence when the desired behavior
occurs.
Punishment
 Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate an undesirable
behavior.
Extinction/ non reinforcement
 Eliminating any reinforcement that is maintaining a behavior is
called extinction.