Analysis of a Learning Theory “Learning is often described as a process which leads to a permanent change in behaviour or a potential change” (allpsych.com). As we learn, the way we see the environment, how we interact with others and how we behave in social situations alters, often for the better. Learning is a continuous process however the way in which we learn depends on the techniques that we are taught, these are often called Learning Theory’s.
A learning theory can be described as a concept or idea which explains how we absorb, process and retain information during learning, they are “any of the proposals put forth to explain changes in behaviour produced by factors as opposed to other factors” (Britannica.com).
One of the main learning …show more content…
Stimulus-response mechanisms often come from the environment which in turn encourages a response and results in a change in behaviour from the individual or even group. It is often said that children’s actions are acquired through a conditioning process. This theory can be defined as nothing more than “the acquisition of a new behaviour” (teachinglearningresources.com). The behaviourist approach was the main paradigm between 1920-1950 and as a result a lot of psychologists have conducted many study’s into this field. Behaviourist psychologists always present the child as a blank “tabula rasa” at birth, the child then learns by reacting to stimuli and reinforcements from the environment or people within that environment (Anning .A 2002). They developed two main categories within the behaviourism theory, operant conditioning and classical conditioning. Classical and Operant conditioning are both central to the behaviourism theory and each give a different approach to how we are conditioned in the way we are. The first is Operant and this assumes that all behaviour is learnt through a reward …show more content…
By forming an association between these two stimuli a learned response is developed. Throughout school environments classical learning can take place probably more widely when a child misbehaves. For example, a child who refuses to do their work can be punished by having their play time took away so they create an association between what they have done and the consequence of that action, meaning they hopefully won’t repeat that behaviour. John B. Watson proved that it was possible to condition to children/people emotionally. In an experiment now known widely as ‘Little Albert’, Watson and his partner Rayner exposed a nine month old boy to a series of animals including monkeys, dogs, rats etc. Albert reacted positively to all of these showing no sign of fear, however, as Watson showed Albert the rat again he began to pair it with a loud noise (hitting a metal pipe with a hammer). After hearing the noise, Albert naturally began to cry and after doing this several times he would start to cry upon only seeing the rat, no noise was
A learning theory can be described as a concept or idea which explains how we absorb, process and retain information during learning, they are “any of the proposals put forth to explain changes in behaviour produced by factors as opposed to other factors” (Britannica.com).
One of the main learning …show more content…
Stimulus-response mechanisms often come from the environment which in turn encourages a response and results in a change in behaviour from the individual or even group. It is often said that children’s actions are acquired through a conditioning process. This theory can be defined as nothing more than “the acquisition of a new behaviour” (teachinglearningresources.com). The behaviourist approach was the main paradigm between 1920-1950 and as a result a lot of psychologists have conducted many study’s into this field. Behaviourist psychologists always present the child as a blank “tabula rasa” at birth, the child then learns by reacting to stimuli and reinforcements from the environment or people within that environment (Anning .A 2002). They developed two main categories within the behaviourism theory, operant conditioning and classical conditioning. Classical and Operant conditioning are both central to the behaviourism theory and each give a different approach to how we are conditioned in the way we are. The first is Operant and this assumes that all behaviour is learnt through a reward …show more content…
By forming an association between these two stimuli a learned response is developed. Throughout school environments classical learning can take place probably more widely when a child misbehaves. For example, a child who refuses to do their work can be punished by having their play time took away so they create an association between what they have done and the consequence of that action, meaning they hopefully won’t repeat that behaviour. John B. Watson proved that it was possible to condition to children/people emotionally. In an experiment now known widely as ‘Little Albert’, Watson and his partner Rayner exposed a nine month old boy to a series of animals including monkeys, dogs, rats etc. Albert reacted positively to all of these showing no sign of fear, however, as Watson showed Albert the rat again he began to pair it with a loud noise (hitting a metal pipe with a hammer). After hearing the noise, Albert naturally began to cry and after doing this several times he would start to cry upon only seeing the rat, no noise was