Fundamentals of Learning as part of the course general psychology

1. Chapter 3: Learning &
Theories of Learning
Introduction, Definition, nature, characteristics of learning, & factors affecting
learning

2. Introduction
 One of the most important characteristics of human beings is their capacity to
learn.
 An individual starts learning even before birth.
 Our personality, our habits, skills, knowledge, attitude and interest is largely the result
of learning.
 All our adaptive as well as maladaptive, and cognitive as well as affective
behavior are formed by learning process.
 These are the vital important in helping the individual to adapt to his environment.

3. Definition of Learning
 Learning is a complex process and thus defined in many different ways some of which are given here:
 The term learning covers every modification in behavior to meet environmental requirements.
 Learning is the acquisition of habits, knowledge and attitudes; it involves new way of doing things and it
operates on an individual’s attempt to overcome the obstacles or to adjust the new situations.
 Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviours, skills, values, attitudes,
and preferences.
 Learning is “a process that leads to change, which occurs as a result of experience and increases the
potential for improved performance and future learning”.
 Learning a persisting change in human performance or performance potential . . . (brought) about
as a result of the learner’s interaction with the environment (Driscoll, 1994, pp. 8-9).
 Learning is an enduring change in behavior, or in the capacity to behave in a given fashion, which
results from practice or other forms of experience (Shuell, 1986, p. 412).
 Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in a person’s knowledge or behavior due
to experience (Mayer, 1982, p. 1040).

4. Key elements in the definitions
 Learning can be defined as “any relatively permanent change in behavior that
occurs as a result of practice or experience”(Morgan, et al. 2009).
 This definition has three important elements:
i) Learning is a change in behavior, for better or worse.
ii) It is a change that takes place through practice or experience; changes due
to growth or maturation are not learning.
iii) Before it can be called learning, that change in behavior must be relatively
permanent(persistent, enduring, etc.); this means that temporary and transitory
changes in behavior that result from fatigue, drug, illness, etc. do not qualify to be
called learning

5. Nature of Learning
 Learning is a process and not a product
 It involves all those experiences and training of an individual which helps to change
his behavior.
 Learning prepares the individual to adjust and adopt in the situations.
 All the learning is purposeful and goal-oriented.
 Learning is universal and continuous.
 It is a continuous and never-ending process that goes from womb to tomb.
 Learning brings changes in conative (motor), cognitive, and affective activities of
human behavior.

6. Characteristics of Learning
 Learning is unitary(Holistic)- The learner responds as a whole person in a unified
ways to the whole situation or total patter; they respond intellectually, emotionally,
physically, & spiritually and they occur simultaneously.
 Learning is an individual and a social phenomenon: Learning is entirely an
individual matter and each individual must learn in their own activity; Learning is a
social phenomenon because it takes place as some type of response to the social
environment of the individual.
 Learning is an active process: Learning does not happen without self-activity
 Learning is purposive-It moves towards a certain end goal
 Learning is creative- Human learning is both selective and creative.
 Learning is transferable- Whatever is learned in one context or situation will be
applied or affect another context or situation….

7. Factors influencing learning
 Factors associated with the learners
Learner’s physical health
Learners mental health
Basic potential of the learner
The level of motivation
Goal of life
Readiness and will power
Maturation
Age
Emotions
sex

8. Factors influencing learning: Laws of Learning
 Law of Readiness: This law states that learning can only take place when a student
is ready to learn; when students feel ready, they learn more effectively and with
greater satisfaction than when not ready.
 Law of exercise: This law of Thorndike’s states that learning becomes efficient after
practicing or exercising regularly and becomes weak after the trial or practicing is
discontinued.
 Just take an example of football if you often practice your connection would be
strengthened and if you stop practicing for an extended time the connection
would be weakened.
 Law of exercise has also two parts:
Law of use: This law suggests that the connection between stimulus and response
would be strong after its occurrence, use or practice.
Law of disuse: This law suggests that the connection between stimulus and
response would be decreased without practicing or use.
 The saying "Use it or lose it" summarizes the law of use and disuse.

9. …Laws of Learning…cont’d
 Law of Effect: Learning is strengthened when associated with a pleasant or
satisfying feeling; Learning is weakened when associated with an unpleasant
feeling, becoming less likely for learning to occur again in the future; Learners
will try to avoid it; Learning occurs when it results in satisfaction and the learner
derives pleasure out of it(Learning responds to both reinforcement &
punishment)

10. Theories of Learning
 Question: How do people learn?
 Answer: Nobody really knows.
 But there are 6 main theories:
1. Behaviorism
2. Cognitivism
3. Social Learning Theory
4. Social Constructivism
5. Multiple Intelligences
6. Brain-Based Learning