CH-6, LEARNING

Learning can be defined as “any relatively permanent change in behavior or in the potential for behavior brought
about through experience.” Learning can be distinguished from other modes of changes in behavior that might be
due to maturation or evolution. Learning is a sequential process that is significantly different from performance as
performance is a person’s observed behavior that guarantees to learn while learning never guarantees performance.

Classical Conditioning – Form of Learning

 It is a previously learned stimulus. Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to
elicit an unconditioned response(UCR). Resultantly, the CS comes to elicit a conditioned response that is
similar to the UCR
 Classical conditioning occurs because of the association in time of a neutral stimulus that already elicits the
response. The CS becomes a signal that predicts the occurrence of the UCS

Operant Conditioning – Form of Learning

This is a form of learning in which consequences of behavior lead to changes in the probability of its occurrence:

In Positive Reinforcement – An increase in the probability of the occurrence of response is caused due to a positive
consequence of behavior.

 Primary reinforcers are innately reinforcing

 Secondary reinforcers are learned through classical conditioning
 Fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval are the four different schedules of
reinforcement that result in different patterns of behavior
 Shaping is the process of positively reinforcing responses that are progressively more similar to the
response that is wanted

Negative Reinforcement – It occurs when avoidance or removal of a negative event is the reinforcing
consequence. 

Punishment – A process in which the frequency of the behavior is reduced through an aversive consequence of
behavior.
New Stimuli

 New stimuli influence behavior through the process of learning

 It is said that stimulus discrimination has been learned when a response is more likely to occur in the
presence of a specific stimulus
 Stimulus generalization occurs when an individual responds in the same way to a stimulus that is similar to
the original stimulus

Process of Unlearning 

Extinction in this respect is defined as the removal of an aspect of the environment that originally caused the
learning and hence calls for the unlearning of the learned response. Extinction is often slowed down because of
spontaneous recovery and external disinheriting.

Imitation 

This concept is based on Bandura’s Social learning theory. Imitation is another form of learning. It is also known as
observational learning. The reinforcement provided by parents when their children imitate grown-up actions ensures
that children acquire many aspects of behavior in this way. It is also known as modeling. In modeling, somebody
observes another and then attempts to imitate their behavior. 

Verbal Learning 

Learning about objects and events in terms of words is called Verbal Learning. It can be done through a method of
paired-associate learning, serial learning, and free recall. The main determinants of verbal learning are:

 Meaningfulness of the material time devoted to learning

 Category clustering means the subjective organization is the main determinant of verbal learning

Skills and Transfer of Learning 

In simple terms, as well all may know skills can be defined as the ability to perform a task with precision and ease
by an individual. As the phrase suggests, transfer of learning is the way through which one can transfer learned skills
from one situation to another related situation. Skills are acquired through the following stages:

1. Cognitive
2. Associative 
3. Autonomous

Factors Facilitating Learning

The learner’s performance is influenced by their cognitive style which refers to a learner’s consistent way of
responding to and using stimuli in the context of learning. There are three major factors facilitating learning. Here
are the names of all three:

 Motivation
 Preparedness of the Learner
 Reinforcement
Learning Disability 

These disabilities are mostly inherited or neurologically determined and can be defined as “a heterogeneous group of
disorders which are manifested in terms of difficulty in the acquisition of learning, reading, writing, speaking,
reasoning and mathematical activities.”

1. What is learning? What are its distinguishing features?

Ans: In simple terms, learning can be defined as “any relatively permanent change in behavior or in the potential
for behavior brought about through experience.” Learning can be distinguished from other modes of changes in
behavior that might be due to maturation or evolution. Learning is a sequential process that is significantly different
from performance as performance is a person’s observed behavior that guarantees to learn while learning never
guarantees performance.

2. Define operant conditioning. Discuss the factors that influence the course of operant conditioning.a

Ans: This is a form of learning in which consequences of behavior lead to changes in the probability of its
occurrence.

In Positive Reinforcement – An increase in the probability of the occurrence of response is caused due to a positive
consequence of behavior.

 Primary reinforcers are innately reinforcing

 Secondary reinforcers are learned through classical conditioning
 Fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval are the four different schedules of
reinforcement that result in different patterns of behavior
 Shaping is the process of positively reinforcing responses that are progressively more similar to the
response that is wanted

Negative Reinforcement – Occurs when avoidance or removal of a negative event is the reinforcing consequence. 

Punishment – A process in which the frequency of the behavior is reduced through an aversive consequence of
behavior.