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Assignment 2

The document discusses several theories of learning: 1) Classical conditioning involves associating an unconditioned stimulus that triggers a natural response with a previously neutral conditioned stimulus. 2) Operant conditioning is learning through rewards and punishments for behaviors. Behaviors are strengthened or weakened by reinforcement and punishment. 3) Social learning theory posits that people learn from observing others through processes of attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.

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94 views

Assignment 2

The document discusses several theories of learning: 1) Classical conditioning involves associating an unconditioned stimulus that triggers a natural response with a previously neutral conditioned stimulus. 2) Operant conditioning is learning through rewards and punishments for behaviors. Behaviors are strengthened or weakened by reinforcement and punishment. 3) Social learning theory posits that people learn from observing others through processes of attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.

Uploaded by

hamudude
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment # 2

Q 1. Define learning and write a note on the theories of learning.

Ans. Learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together cognitive, emotional,
and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes
in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views. Learning as a process focuses on what
happens when the learning takes place.

Learning can also be defined as measurable and relatively permanent change in behaviour
through experience, instruction, or study. Whereas individual learning is selective, group
learning is essentially political its outcomes depend largely on power playing in the group.
Learning itself cannot be measured, but its results can be.

Learning is a process of Mental, Physical and Spiritual development. Development is


advancing and growth. Development is proof that learning has taken place. One has to apply
him or her self to a given situation and or context in order for learning to occur.

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING:

Classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs through associations between an


environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. In order to understand how
classical conditioning works, it is important to be familiar with the basic principles of the
process.

The Unconditioned Stimulus


The unconditioned stimulus is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers
a response. For example, when you smell one of your favourite foods, you may immediately
feel very hungry. In this example, the smell of the food is the unconditioned stimulus.

The Unconditioned Response


The unconditioned response is the unlearned response that occurs naturally in response to
the unconditioned stimulus. In our example, the feeling of hunger in response to the smell
of food is the unconditioned response.

The Conditioned Stimulus


The conditioned stimulus is previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with
the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response. In our
earlier example, suppose that when you smelled your favorite food, you also heard the
sound of a whistle. While the whistle is unrelated to the smell of the food, if the sound of
the whistle was paired multiple times with the smell, the sound would eventually trigger the
conditioned response. In this case, the sound of the whistle is the conditioned stimulus.

The Conditioned Response


The conditioned response is the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus. In our
example, the conditioned response would be feeling hungry when you heard the sound of
the whistle.
Classical Conditioning in the Real World
In reality, people do not respond exactly like Pavlov's dogs. There are, however, numerous
real-world applications for classical conditioning. For example, many dog trainers use
classical conditioning techniques to help people train their pets.

These techniques are also useful in the treatment of phobias or anxiety problems. Teachers
are able to apply classical conditioning in the class by creating a positive classroom
environment to help students overcome anxiety or fear. Pairing an anxiety-provoking
situation, such as performing in front of a group, with pleasant surroundings helps the
student learn new associations. Instead of feeling anxious and tense in these situations, the
child will learn to stay relaxed and calm.

Operant Conditioning Theory:

Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of


learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour. Through operant
conditioning, an association is made between behaviour and a consequence for that
behaviour.

Operant conditioning was coined by behaviourist B.F. Skinner, which is why you may
occasionally hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. As a behaviourist, Skinner
believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behaviour.
Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human
behaviour.

Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that operates upon the
environment to generate consequences" (1953). In other words, Skinner's theory explained
how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day.

Components of Operant Conditioning

Some key concepts in operant conditioning:


 A reinforce is any event that strengthens or increases the behaviour it follows. There
are two kinds of reinforcers:
1. Positive reinforces are favourable events or outcomes that are presented
after the behaviour. In situations that reflect positive reinforcement, a response or
behaviour is strengthened by the addition of something, such as praise or a direct
reward.
2. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavourable events or
outcomes after the display of a behaviour. In these situations, a response is
strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant.
In both of these cases of reinforcement, the behaviour increases.

 Punishment, on the other hand, is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome


that causes a decrease in the behaviour it follows. There are two kinds of punishment:
1. Positive punishment sometimes referred to as punishment by application,
involves the presentation of an unfavourable event or outcome in order to weaken
the response it follows.
2. Negative punishment, also known as punishment by removal, occurs when an
favourable event or outcome is removed after a behaviour occurs.

In both of these cases of punishment, the behaviour decreases.

Social Learning Theory:

People learn through observing others’ behaviour, attitudes, and outcomes of those
behaviours. “Most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling: from
observing others, one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later
occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action.” . Social learning theory
explains human behaviour in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive,
behavioural, and environmental influences.
Necessary conditions for effective modelling:

1. Attention — various factors increase or decrease the amount of attention paid.


Includes distinctiveness, affective valence, prevalence, complexity, functional value. One’s
characteristics (e.g. sensory capacities, arousal level, perceptual set, past reinforcement)
affect attention.
2. Retention — remembering what you paid attention to. Includes symbolic coding,
mental images, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal
3. Reproduction — reproducing the image. Including physical capabilities, and self-
observation of reproduction.
4. Motivation — having a good reason to imitate. Includes motives such as past (i.e.
traditional behaviourism), promised (imagined incentives) and vicarious (seeing and
recalling the reinforced model)

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