4+ +learning

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 Conditioning S

R

Behavior determined by event that precedes the behavior

Operant Conditioning R

S

Consequence of response determines 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 2. 3. 4. 5.

Steps in Social Learning Observation Mental models Imitation / Enacting role model 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.