Understanding Learning: Key Concepts and Types 6.1

Jan 21, 2025

6.1 What Is Learning? - Psychology 2e | OpenStax

Learning Objectives

  • Differentiate learned behaviors from instincts and reflexes.
  • Define learning.
  • Understand three basic forms of learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

Key Concepts

Instincts and Reflexes

  • Instincts: Innate behaviors triggered by a broader range of events (e.g., maturation, seasonal changes).
    • Complex behaviors (e.g., migration, sexual activity).
    • Involve higher brain centers.
  • Reflexes: Simple reactions to environmental stimuli.
    • Examples: knee-jerk reflex, pupil contraction in bright light.
    • Involve primitive centers of the CNS (e.g., spinal cord, medulla).
  • Both are unlearned behaviors aiding in adaptation.

Learning

  • Defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior/knowledge from experience.
  • Involves acquiring knowledge and skills through experience.
  • Requires a complex interaction of conscious and unconscious processes.

Associative Learning

  • Occurs when connections are made between stimuli or events.
  • Central to all three basic learning processes:
    1. Classical Conditioning:
      • Also known as Pavlovian conditioning.
      • Associating events (stimuli) that occur together (e.g., lightning and thunder).
      • Involves unconscious processes.
    2. Operant Conditioning:
      • Associating behaviors with consequences (reinforcement or punishment).
      • Examples: reward for sitting behavior in dogs (receiving treats).
      • Involves conscious processes.
    3. Observational Learning (Modeling):
      • Learning by watching others and imitating.
      • Adds social and cognitive layers to basic associative processes.
      • Learning occurs without direct experience.

Role of Behaviorism

  • Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and their associations with environment stimuli.
  • These learning approaches are part of behaviorism but are not exhaustive of learning studies.
  • Other psychological domains like memory and cognition also contribute to learning understanding.

Integration of Cognition

  • Over time, cognition has increasingly been integrated into behaviorism.
  • Recognizes that behaviors are influenced by thought processes.