Theories of Learning

Rogelyn P. Diola BSE-English

DE LA SALLE ARANETA UNIVERSITYVictoneta Avenue, Malabon City

Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning Theory

Late 1800s and early 1900sPavlov observed that if meat powder was

placed in or near the mouth of a hungry dog, the dog will salivate.

The meat powder is referred to as an unconditioned stimulus.

Salivation occurred automatically in the presence of meat, this response called unconditioned response.

Neutral stimulus (ringing of the bell) paired with an unconditioned stimulus, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and gains the power to prompt a response similar to that produced by the unconditioned stimulus.

Several Principles of Classical Conditioning

Stimulus Generalization

Discrimination

Extinction

Thorndike’s S-R TheoryEdward Thorndike’s work on animal

behavior and the learning process led to the theory of connectionism.

A theory that proposes letting children learn themselves rather than receiving instruction from teachers.

Law of Effect states that if an act is followed by a satisfying change in the environment, the likelihood that the act will be repeated in similar situations increases.

• Law of Readiness states that when an organism, both human and animal is ready to form connections to do so is satisfying and not to do so is annoying.

• Law of Excercise states that any connection is strengthened in proportion to the number of times it occurs and in proportion to the average vigor and duration of the connection.

B. F. Skinner Operant Conditioning Theory

Focused on the relation between behavior and its consequences.

The use f pleasant and un pleasant consequences to change behavior is often referred to as operant conditioning

reinforcement is defined as any behavioral consequence that strengthens( that is, increases the frequency of) a behavior.

• Positive reinforcers are events that are presented after a response has been performed and that increases the behavior or activity they follow.

• Negative reinforcers are escapes from unpleasant situations or ways of preventing something unpleasant from occurring.

• Primary reinforcers are those that satisfy basic human needs.

• Secondary reinforcers are those that require reinforcing power because they have been associated with primary reinforcers.

Social Learning Theory

It is a major outgrowth of the behavioral learning theory tradition and developed by Albert Bandura

Focuses to a much greater degree on the effects of cues on behavior and in internal mental processes, emphasizing the effects of thought on action and action on thought

Four Phases Attention. An observer must attend to and

recognize the distinctive features of the model’s response because mere exposure to a model does not ensure acquisition of behavior.

Retention. Reproduction of the desired behavior implies that a student symbolically retains the observed behavior.

Motor reproduction processes. symbolic coding produces internal models of the environment that guide the observer’s future behavior.

Motivational Processes. Although an observer acquires and retains the ability to perform modeled behavior, there will be no overt performance unless conditions are favorable.

Classroom teachers use the principle of vicarious learning all the time.