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Chapter 5
Behavioral Theories of Learning

What Is Learning?

Learning involves the acquisition of abilities that are not innate. Learning depends on experience, including feedback from the environment.

What Behavioral Learning Theories Have Evolved?

Early research into learning studied the effects of stimuli on reflexive behaviors. Ivan Pavlov contributed the idea of classical conditioning, in which neutral stimuli can acquire the capacity to evoke behavioral responses through their association with unconditioned stimuli that trigger reflexes. E. L. Thorndike developed the Law of Effect, emphasizing the role of the consequences of present behavior in determining future behavior. B. F. Skinner continued the study of the relationship between behavior and consequences. He described operant conditioning, in which reinforcers and punishers shape behavior.

What Are Some Principles of Behavioral Learning?

Reinforcers increase the frequency of a behavior, and punishers decrease its frequency. Reinforcement can be primary or secondary, positive or negative. Intrinsic reinforcers are rewards inherent in a behavior itself. Extrinsic reinforcers are praise or rewards. Punishment involves weakening behavior by either introducing aversive consequences or removing reinforcers. The Premack Principle states that a way to increase less-enjoyed activities is to link them to more-enjoyed activities. Shaping through timely feedback on each step of a task is an effective teaching practice based on behavioral learning theory. Extinction is the weakening and gradual disappearance of behavior as reinforcement is withdrawn.

Schedules of reinforcement are used to increase the probability, frequency, or persistence of desired behavior. Reinforcement schedules may be based on ratios or intervals and may be fixed or variable. Antecedent stimuli serve as cues indicating which behaviors will be reinforced or punished. Discrimination involves using cues to detect differences between stimulus situations, whereas generalization involves responding to similarities between stimuli. Generalization is transfer or carryover of behaviors learned under one set of conditions to other situations.

How Has Social Learning Theory Contributed to Our Understanding of Human Learning?

Social learning theory is based on a recognition of the importance of observational learning and self-regulated learning. Bandura noted that learning through modeling-directly or vicariously-involves four phases: paying attention, retaining the modeled behavior, reproducing the behavior, and being motivated to repeat the behavior. Bandura proposed that students should be taught to have expectations for their own performances and to reinforce themselves. Meichenbaum proposed steps for self-regulated learning that represent a form of cognitive behavior modification.

Behavioral learning theories are central to the application of educational psychology in classroom management, discipline, motivation, instructional models, and other areas. Behavioral learning theories are limited in scope, however, in that they describe only observable behavior that can be directly measured.