Chapter – 4

Learning
 What is Learning?
• Any relatively permanent change in behavior
that occurs as a result of experience

• The acquisition of knowledge or skills

through study, practice or experience
 Learning
• Learning affects Behavior
• Learning involves change
• Change must be relatively permanent
• Learning takes place when there is a
change in actions
 Theories of Learning

A) Behavioristic theories
B) Cognitive Theories
C) Social Learning Theories
 Behavioristic theories
1) Classical Conditioning
2) Operant Conditioning

• ‘Connectionist Theories’
(Stimulus – Response Connection)
Classical Conditioning
Ivan Pavlov – Russian Psychologist
Classical Conditioning
 Classical Conditioning

“Process in which a formerly neutral

stimulus, when paired with an
unconditioned stimulus becomes a
conditioned stimulus that elicits a
conditioned response.”
 Classical Conditioning

Stimulus Response

• Classical Conditioning is reflexive

• Change in stimulus will elicit particular response

• Most behavior is voluntary and not reflexive – so

cannot be explained by Classical conditioning
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning

B. F. Skinner
Operant Conditioning
 Operant Conditioning

“Tendency to repeat behavior is influenced by

reinforcement or lack of reinforcement brought
about by consequences of behavior”

“People learn to behave in a particular manner

in order to obtain something they want or to
avoid something they do not want.”
 Operant Conditioning
Response Stimulus

• Operant Conditioning focuses on learned behavior

• Behavior is a function of consequence
• Reward acted as reinforcing factor
• Learning is based on Trial & error
• “Reinforcement Theory”
Behavior likely to be repeated if it is reinforced
 Classical Operant
Conditioning Conditioning

S R R S

Behavior Consequence of
determined by response determines
event that precedes behavior
the behavior
 Cognitive Theories

“Organisms develop cognitive maps of their

environments. They learn where different parts
of the environment are situated in relation to one
another.”

Edward Tolman
 Cognitive Theories
Latent Learning
‘Humans engage in this type of
learning everyday as we drive or walk
the same route daily and learn the
locations of various buildings and
objects. Only when we need to find a
building or object does learning
become obvious.
 Cognitive Theories

“Cognitive learning theories seek to explain

how the brain processes and stores new
information.”

“ Learning is developing a pattern of behavior

from bits of knowledge about and cognition
of the environment”
 Cognitive Theories

Stimulus Stimulus

• Association between cue and expectation

• ‘Cognitive maps of environment’ / Mental models
• “Cognitive learning consists of relation between
cognitive environmental cues and expectations”
• Information processing model
 Social Learning Theories
• Blend of behaviorist & cognitive concepts
• Vicarious Learning – Modeling process
• “Observational learning”
• Albert Bandura - “People learn by
imitation/ observing others”
 Social Learning Theories
Steps in Social Learning
2. Observation
3. Mental models
4. Imitation / Enacting role model
5. Repetition if positive consequences
 Principles of Learning
• Law of Effect (Edward Thorndike)
Responses followed by pleasant consequences are
likely to be repeated, while those followed by
unpleasant consequences are less likely to be
repeated

• Extinction Principle
Behavior followed by no consequences will be
extinguished over time.