The advancement of understanding enables the learner to function better in their environment, improve and adapt behaviors, create and maintain healthy relationships, and achieve personal success. Learning has taken place if an individual behaves, reacts, and responds taken from others as a result of experiencing a change in behavior or formerly behavior. 4 Theories of learning are Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Cognitive Theory, and Social Learning Theory. Learning is the individual growth of the person as a result of cooperative interaction with others.
2. The advancement of understanding enables the learner to
function better in their environment, improve and adapt
behaviors, create and maintain healthy relationships, and
achieve personal success. Learning has taken place if an
individual behaves, reacts, and responds taken from others as a
result of experiencing a change in behavior or formerly
behavior. 4 Theories of learning are Classical Conditioning,
Operant Conditioning, Cognitive Theory, and Social Learning
Theory. Learning is the individual growth of the person as a
result of cooperative interaction with others.
3.
4. CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Classical conditioning can be defined as a process in which a
formerly neutral stimulus when paired with an unconditional stimulus,
becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response.
(Luthans 1995)
Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist (Nobel Peace Prize)
developed classical conditioning theory of learning based on his
experiments to teach a dog to salivate in response to the ringing of a
bell.
5. OPERANT CONDITIONING
Operant Conditioning is concerned primarily with learning as a
consequence of behavior Response-Stimulus (R-S). In operant
conditioning particular response occurs as a consequence of many
stimulus situations. Operant conditioning argues that behavior is a
function of its consequences. People learn to behave to get
something they want or avoid something they don’t want. Operant
behavior means voluntary or learned behavior. The tendency to
repeat such behavior is influenced by the reinforcement or lack of
reinforcement brought about by the consequences of the behavior.
Reinforcement therefore strengthens behaviour and increases the
likelihood it will be repeated.
6. COGNITITVE LEARNING THEORIES
Behaviorists such as Skinner and Watson believed
that learning through operant and classical conditioning would be
explained without reference to internal mental processes. Today,
however, a growing number of psychologists stress the role of
mental processes. They choose to broaden the study of learning
theories to include such cognitive processes as thinking, knowing,
problem-solving, remembering and forming mental representations.
According to cognitive theorists, these processes are critically
important in a more complete, more comprehensive view of learning.
7. SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
Albert Bandura contends that many behaviors or responses are
acquired through observational learning. Observational learning,
sometimes called modelling, results when we observe the behaviors
of others and note the consequences of that behavior. Social learning
theory is a behavioral approach. The approach basically deals with
learning process based on direct observation and the experience.
Social learning theory integrates the cognitive and operant
approaches to learning. It recognizes that learning does not take
place only because of environmental stimuli (classical and operant
conditioning) or of individual determinism (cognitive approach) but is
a blend of both views.
8. Usually, the following four processes determine the influence that a model will have on an individual:
1.Attention Process: People can learn from their models provided they recognise and pay attention
to the critical features. In practice, the models that are attractive, repeatedly available or important to
us tend to influence us the most.
2.Retention Process: A model’s influence depends on how well the individual can remember or retain
in memory the behavior/action displayed by him when the model is no longer readily available.
3.Motor Reproduction Process: Now, the individual needs to convert the model’s action into his
action. This process evinces how well an individual can perform the modelled action.
4.Reinforcement Process: Individuals become motivated to display the modelled action if incentive
and rewards are provided to the