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Can you remember a time when you didn’t know how to tie your shoe, ride a bike, or solve a math equation? Surely, you were not born knowing how to perform all of these tasks. You, like everyone else, had to learn them. What seems like a simple explanation is one of the greatest psychological phenomena. There are several theories, explanations, and factors that surround how learning takes place. In this explanation, we will delve into the main learning concepts, types, and theories that have revealed themselves through years of well-established psychological studies and observations.

What is learning?
What are the different types of learning?
What is habituation?
What is the social learning theory?

Concept of Learning

Before discussing all of the complexities and various learning constructs, we must define the actual concept of learning.

Learning is a behavioral shift or ability as a result of experience(s) (Revlin 2013).

The learning process varies from person to person and between individual experiences. However, through years of studies, observation, and trials, there are types of learning that have some degree of universality among all humans and even animals! In fact, many famous studies that have become the structural foundation of many learning theories have used animals as subjects in the study. We will expand on this idea later as we discuss the types of learning.

It is important to keep in mind that many varying factors can impact the speed, effectiveness, and learning methods of individuals. These could be biological, environmental, or psychological factors that play a role in learning. This being said, each method and theory of learning can be more or less effective for each person.

Learning + photo of student at desk + Vaia Fg. 1 Learning processes differ from person to person, pixabay.com

Learning in Psychology

When you think of learning, you probably have a pretty good idea about how it works and your preferred methods from years of experience. When it comes to learning in psychology, all of these methods and types of learning are defined and measured in various studies and applications. Understanding the psychological structures involved in the learning process will help identify why these methods are so effective and how to implement them into your own studies.

A simple and operational concept of the learning process starts with two basic forms of learning. The first is that the measure of particular behavior either increases or decreases. The second is that a new behavior is developed and routinely implemented.

An operational definition is used in psychology to define something in a way that is measurable or observable; this is very important in clinical research and studies.

Types of Learning

Now that we have established a general overview and definition of learning, let’s go over the main theories and methods surrounding the learning process and how they are applied in everyday examples in life.

Habituation

In psychological terms, habituation refers to the decreased response rate following the application of a certain stimulus over time (Revlin 2013). Just as the name would suggest, to habituate is to “get used to” something after constantly being exposed to it. This is one of the most basic forms of learning, and examples of this exist in most experiences throughout our lives.

Think of a time in your life when you have been nervous. How about public speaking? At first, you may be extremely nervous, and maybe your voice would shake, or your hands might even sweat. However, if you were constantly asked to give speeches, this nervous response would eventually decrease. This is what is known as habituation.

Sensitization

In contrast to habituation, sensitization refers to the increased response rate following a repeated stimulus. This can be identified in situations when a learner becomes aware of a stimulus and develops a stronger response as time goes on. One important hallmark of sensitization is that the increased response can occur to any given stimulus with surprising or unexpected quality.

Someone who has been sensitized to the sight of needles. A person who has had a shot or vaccine with a needle and experienced shocking pain, as a result, may develop a stronger response to seeing a needle. Because they have associated needles with pain, they will have an increased response to the stimulus, which, in this case, is a needle.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning, also known as Pavlovian conditioning, is a type of learning through the association made between two types of stimulus that develops a learned response. This groundbreaking discovery was made by a Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov in 1902 when he conducted his extremely famous experiment known commonly as Pavlov’s dog.

This method first occurs when an unconditioned stimulus produces an initial (unconditioned) response and then is paired with another neutral stimulus and repeated. The learner then makes an association between the two stimuli creating a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response.

This diagram of Pavlov’s dog demonstrates classical conditioning:

Learning, Diagram explaining Pavlov's experiment with dogs, Vaia Fg. 2 Classical conditioning in Pavlov's dogs, commons.wikimedia.org

In this example, the dog has learned to associate the ringing of the bell with food and develops a conditioned response (salivating) at the introduction of the conditioned stimulus (bell ringing), demonstrating classical conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

This specific method of learning is another significant discovery in the history of psychology and was made famous by an American psychologist B.F. Skinner, in his 1948 studies on operant conditioning. This type of learning displays unique characteristics that differ from the previously mentioned forms. In operant conditioning, the outcome is completely determined by the response. More specifically, the response to a behavior determines the likelihood for the behavior to be repeated (Mcleod 2018).

Two aspects pertaining to this method of learning are reinforcement and punishment.

Positive/negative reinforcement
- A pleasant stimulus is rewarded after good behavior, so the behavior increases.
- An unpleasant stimulus is removed to increase good behavior.
Positive/negative Punishment
- Punishment is administered following bad behavior to decrease it.
- Punishment is removed to increase good behavior.

An important note in operant conditioning is that we tend to repeat the behaviors that produce a rewarding or encouraging response. At the same time, behaviors that result in punishment or a negative response are less likely to be repeated (Thorndike 1927). This is known as Thorndike’s law of effect within operant conditioning.

A child is throwing a tantrum in a toy store, so the parent punishes this behavior by leaving the store and giving the child a time-out. The child then learns to stop misbehaving in stores to avoid this punishment. In another scenario, a child helps a classmate with a task and is rewarded with a lollipop for their good behavior. This results in an increase in that behavior due to the encouraging response granted.

Social Learning Theory

By combining ideas from both operant and classical conditioning, then including sentiments of observation and cognition, psychologist Albert Bandura coined the concept of social learning theory (1977). This theory derives from the idea that learning takes place using imitation and observation of others’ behavior while emphasizing the ideas of positive and negative reinforcement.

Bandura’s notorious Bobo Doll Experiment in 1961 is a perfect example of the social learning theory.

Learning, Images of Bandura's bobo doll experiment, Vaia Fg. 3 Images of Bandura's Bobo doll experiment, Wikimedia.org

In this experiment, children were shown behaviors of a model interacting with an inflatable doll in either an aggressive or non-aggressive manner. Then, they got a chance to play with the doll while researchers observed their behavior. The results of the study showed that most children who witnessed the aggressive interaction model engaged in more aggressive behavior in their interactions. Children who saw the non-aggressive model showed less physical aggression toward the doll (Mcleod, 2014).

This is an exemplary demonstration of the social cognitive theory as the learners imitate behaviors they observed from a model in a similar social setting. This type of imitative behavior can be seen every day within communities of youth and adolescents. For example, think of a time when you may have learned to behave a certain way after watching a friend's actions. This is a prominent and almost innate method of learning that contributes to our society as we know it.

Learning - Key takeaways

The basic definition of learning is a behavioral shift or change as a result of an experience.
- Two main concepts of learning are that behavior either increases or decreases as a result or a new behavior is acquired.
Habituation is a type of learning that results in a decreased behavior through repeated exposure to the stimulus.
Sensitization refers to an increased rate of response following a repeated stimulus.
Classical conditioning is a type of learning that involves the association between two unconditioned stimuli that result in a conditioned stimulus and a conditioned response.
Operant conditioning emphasizes learning through the response to behavior.
The social learning theory suggests learning takes place through imitation of observed behavior

References

Revlin, R. (2013). Cognition: Theory and practice. Worth Publishers.
Thorndike, E. L. (1927). The Law of Effect. The American Journal of Psychology, 39, 212-222.
Fg. 2 Classical Conditioning Diagram, Salehi.s, commons.wikimedia.org, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Fg. 3 Bobo Doll Deneyi, Okhanm, commons.wikimedia.org, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Learning

The two main forms of the learning process are:

1. A behavior either increases or decreases.

2. A new behavior is developed.

Learning is a behavioral shift or ability resulting from experience.

Five common types of learning are habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning.

Final Learning Quiz

Learning Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

What are 4 types of learning?

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Answer

Habituation, Sensitization, Classical Conditioning, and Operant Conditioning.

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Question

_____________ refers to the decreased response rate following the application of a certain stimulus over time

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Answer

Habituation

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Question

______________ refers to the increased response rate following a repeated stimulus.

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Answer

Sensitization

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Question

______________ is a type of learning through the association made between two types of stimulus that develops a learned response

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Answer

Classical Conditioning

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Question

In ___________ conditioning, the learner makes an association between the two stimuli, creating a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response.

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Answer

Classical

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Question

Pavlov's dog in an example of _______________ conditioning.

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Answer

Classical

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Question

In the example of Pavlov's dog, salivation is the _______________.

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Answer

Conditioned response

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Question

In _____________ conditioning, the outcome is completely determined by the response.

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Answer

Operant

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Question

Two aspects of this method of learning are reinforcement and punishment.

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Answer

Operant Conditioning

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Question

We tend to repeat the behaviors that produce a rewarding or encouraging response. At the same time, behaviors that result in punishment or a negative response are less likely to be repeated. This theory is known as _________________.

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Answer

Thorndike’s law of effect

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Question

This theory derives from the idea that learning takes place using imitation and observation of others’ behavior while emphasizing the ideas of positive and negative reinforcement.

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Answer

Social Learning Theory

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Question

Bandura’s notorious Bobo Doll Experiment in 1961 is a perfect example of ________________.

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Answer

Social Learning Theory

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Question

True or False: Sensitization refers to the decreased response rate following a repeated stimulus.

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Answer

False

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Question

True or False: In negative reinforcement, an unpleasant stimulus is removed to increase good behavior.

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Answer

True

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Question

True or False: In negative punishment, punishment is removed to increase good behavior.

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Answer

True

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Learning

Concept of Learning

Learning in Psychology

Types of Learning

Habituation

Sensitization

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Social Learning Theory

Learning - Key takeaways

References

Frequently Asked Questions about Learning

What are the two main forms of the learning process?

What is the basic definition of learning?

What are the five common types of learning?

Final Learning Quiz

Learning Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

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