Learning Theories

• LEARNING – A change in the behavior (SKA) that can be observed or measured and that can occur at any time or in any place as a result of exposure to environmental stimuli.
• • LEARNING THEORY - a coherent framework and set of integrated constructs and principles that describe, explain, or predict how people learn
• DEFENSE MECHANISM - Employed to protect the self when an individual's ego is threatened; short term use is a way of coming to grips with reality, but long term reliance allows individuals to avoid reality and may act as a barrier to learning and transfer
• • HIERARCHY OF NEEDS - Theory of human motivation based on integrated wholeness of the individual and levels of satisfaction of basic human needs organized by potency
• RESPONDENT CONDITIONING - Also termed Classical or Pavlovian Conditioning. Emphasizes the importance of stimulus condition and the associations formed in the learning process, whereby, without thought or awareness, learning takes place when a newly conditioned stimulus (CS) becomes associated with a conditioned response (CR).
• BEHAVIORIST

  Watson & Pavlov/Guthrie (contiguity theorists)

  -Learning is a permanent change in behavior

  -Stimulus-response
• BEHAVIORIST

  Thorndike & Skinner (Reinforcement theorists)

  -Stimulus-response bonds are strengthened by reinforcement such as rewards & punishments

  -Behavior that is rewarded is more likely to occur
• Systematic desensitization is a technique base on respondent conditioning to reduce fear & anxiety
• Social learning theory: role modelling as the central concept
• 4 step of SLT model: attentional phase, retention phase, reproduction phase, and motivational phase
• Psychodynamic learning theory emphasizes the importance of conscious & unconscious forces in guiding behavior, personality conflicts, & the enduring effects of childhood experience
• Discrimination learning is the process of learning to associate a stimulus with a response that is different from the response that is associated with the unconditioned stimulus
• Stimulus generalization is the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is similar to the original stimulus
• Operant conditioning involves reinforcement or punishment to shape behaviour
• ATTENTIONAL PHASE: Observation of the role model
• RETENTION PHASE: processing and representation in memory
• REPRODUCTION PHASE: memory guides performance of model's actions
• MOTIVATIONAL PHASE: influenced by vicarious reinforcement and punishment, covert cognitive activity, consequences of behavior & self-reinforcement & punishment