Welcome to lesson five of the free Introduction to Psychology online course! In the first four lessons, we covered the basics of psychology, research methods, biopsychology and states of consciousness. In today's lesson, we will focus on the psychology of learning.
From the day we our born, we begin a process of learning that lasts throughout life. While there are many ways to define and describe learning, it is typically defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of experience. In this week's lesson, we'll explore several different theories of learning.
Syllabus for this week:
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Schedules of reinforcement
Observational learning
Click the links below to read the articles and resources related to each topic in this lesson. There's no homework for this lesson, but there is one short quiz. Remember, this course in 100 percent self-directed. There are no grades! You are entirely responsible for reading and learning the material. Good luck with this lesson!
The Power of Associations
You've probably heard of Pavlov's dogs at some point, but many people don't fully understand exactly what this famous research illustrates. Classical conditioning is one of the best-known concepts of behavioral learning theory. Learn more about this process in this introduction to classical conditioning .
Classical Conditioning Basics
Now that you understand how classical conditioning works, it is also important to understand some of the basic phenomena that also occur during this process. Learn more about such things include acquisition, extinction and discrimination in this overview of principles of classical conditioning.
The Consequences of Behavior
Operant conditioning is one of the fundamental concepts in behavioral psychology. This type of learning involves using reinforcement and punishment to either increase or decrease behaviors. Learn more about the effects of rewards and punishments on behavior in this overview of operant conditioning.
How Timing Impacts Learning
The types of reinforcement use are important, but timing also plays a critical role in how quickly new behaviors are acquired and how strong these new responses are. Learn more about how the timing of reinforcement impacts speed and strength of responses in this article on schedules of reinforcement.
Classical Versus Operant Conditioning
Now that we've explored classical conditioning and operant conditioning, do you think you could immediately identify which is which. In a classroom setting, chances are good that you're instructor will provide some examples of learning and expect you to identify which type of conditioning is used. Read the following article to learn more about the major differences between the classical and operant conditioning.
Learning Through Observation
Psychologist Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory, which emphasizes the importance of observational learning. As you can imagine, a great deal of learning takes place simply through watching the people around us. Learn more about this theory including basic concepts and how the process works in this overview of social learning theory.
NOTE;The social learning theory proposed by Albert Bandura has become perhaps the most influential theory of learning and development. While rooted in many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning.
His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors.
Basic Social Learning Concepts
There are three core concepts at the heart of social learning theory. First is the idea that people can learn through observation. Next is the idea that internal mental states are an essential part of this process. Finally, this theory recognizes that just because something has been learned, it does not mean that it will result in a change in behavior.
Let's explore each of these concepts in greater depth.
1. People can learn through observation.
Observational Learning
In his famous Bobo doll experiment, Bandura demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviors they have observed in other people. The children in Bandura’s studies observed an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll. When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to imitate the aggressive actions they had previously observed.
Bandura identified three basic models of observational learning:
A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior.
A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior.
A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media.
2. Mental states are important to learning.
Intrinsic Reinforcement
Bandura noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. He described intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many textbooks place social learning theory with behavioral theories, Bandura himself describes his approach as a 'social cognitive theory.'
3. Learning does not necessarily lead to a change in behavior.
While behaviorists believed that learning led to a permanent change in behavior, observational learning demonstrates that people can learn new information without demonstrating new behaviors.
The Modeling Process
Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned. Factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role in whether social learning is successful. Certain requirements and steps must also be followed. The following steps are involved in the observational learning and modeling process:
Attention:
In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the model interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning.
Retention:
The ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process. Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning.
Reproduction:
Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement.
Motivation:
Finally, in order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so can observing other experience some type of reinforcement or punishment. For example, if you see another student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, you might start to show up a few minutes early each day.
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