A Critique of the Behavioural Theories of Learning

A CRITIQUE OF THE BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES OF LEARNING One of the most debated issues in psychology pertains to the nature and meaning of learning. The systematic study of learning is relatively new as it was in the late nineteenth century that studies in this realm began in a scientific manner. Psychologists borrowed techniques from the physical sciences, and conducted experiments to understand how people and animals learn. Psychologists have tried in the past to define and explain how learning takes place. Two of the most important early researchers were Ivan Pavlov and Edward Thorndike. Among later researchers, B. F. Skinner was important for his studies of the relationship between behaviour and consequences. They are also known†¦show more content†¦They found as reported by Myers D.G, that half a second works well. However if the food i.e. the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) appeared before the bell, the conditioned stimulus (CS), then conditioning is not likely to occur. The bell signals the arrival of food. Pavlov calle d this the law of contiguity: The closer the two are in time (with neutral stimulus preceding presentation of UCS), the stronger the conditioning (generally speaking) Extinction. This concept is similar to common sense idea of forgetting. Pavlov found that when he sounded the tone repeatedly without presenting food, the dog’s salivation also decreased. After the conditioning phase, the conditioned response (CR) gets weaker when the conditioned stimulus (CS) or the bell is not accompanied by the UCS (food). It gets weaker not because the organism no longer remembers the UCS-CS connection. It gets weaker because CR is somehow inhibited. Spontaneous recovery. After extinction trials, the dog will start to salivate again in response to CS after only one pairing of UCS and CS. Pavlov called it spontaneous recovery, where the weakened conditioned response reappeared after a rest pause. This according to Pavlov occurred because extinction was suppressing the conditioned response and not eliminating it. (Myers D.G. p 295) Generalization. Generalization is aShow MoreRelatedA Critique of the Behavioural Theories of Learning4640 Words   |  19 PagesA CRITIQUE OF THE BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES OF LEARNING One of the most debated issues in psychology pertains to the nature and meaning of learning. The systematic study of learning is relatively new as it was in the late nineteenth century that studies in this realm began in a scientific manner. Psychologists borrowed techniques from the physical sciences, and conducted experiments to understand how people and animals learn. 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Psychologists have tried in the past to define and explain how learning takes place. Two of the most important early researchers were Ivan Pavlov and Edward Thorndike. Among later researchers, B. F. Skinner was important for his studies of the relationship between behaviour and consequences. They are also known as†¦show more content†¦The famous study of Watson (Myers D.G. P 298) on a young boy Albert involved the sounding of a loud noise by a hammer stuck on steel whenever the boy saw a white rat. After seven repetitions of a white rat accompanied by a frightful sound, Albert started crying on just se eing the rat. This fear was generalized as five days later he showed fear to a white rabbit, a dog, and a sealskin coat but not to objects dissimilar to a rat. Limitations Of Classical Conditioning The main criticism raised against classical conditioning is that it does not give importance to inner feelings, thoughts, desires and motives. It is called reductionist as it reduces behaviour to stimulus and response. Another criticism of behaviourism is that it tends to be mechanistic. This means we merely respond to our environment, and have no control over it. It is also disapproved of, as it is alleged to be deterministic (Keegan, G.). This means the approach believes we passively respond to stimuli in our environment. We have little free will, or exercise of control over our environment, or the objects, events, and people within it.Show MoreRelatedA Critique of the Behavioural Theories of Learning4629 Words   |  19 PagesA CRITIQUE OF THE BEHAVIOURAL THEORIES OF LEARNING One of the most debated issues in psychology pertains to the nature and meaning of learning. The systematic study of learning is relatively new as it was in the late nineteenth century that studies in this realm began in a scientific manner. 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Being diagnosed with diabetes involves learning, â€Å"Kolb’s learning cycle 1984† activist stage describes individuals that want to dive into the swimming pool and see what happens, I guess I was more forced into this learning stage rather than wanting to be in this stage. One psychological theory I can relate to my experience of change is Piaget’s theory of cognitive developmentRead MoreChild Abuse Is A Serious Concern Of Society1570 Words   |  7 Pagessociety because of the negative effects on later social and psychological functioning. Particularly, the concern of ‘the cycle of violence hypothesis’ which is one of the most influential conceptual models for antisocial behaviour in the social and behavioural science (DeLisi, Kosloski, Vaughn, Caudill, Trulson, 2014; Lansford, Miller-Johnson, Berlin, Dodge, Bates, Pettit, 2007). Numerous studies have documented the association between childhood physical abuse and later aggressive behavior and violenceRead MoreIlm Leadership859 Words   |  4 Pagesperformance (M5.29) 5 6 Assessment criteria (the learner can) 1.1 Review the prevailing leadership styles in the organisation Assess the impact of the prevailing leadership styles on the organisation’s values and performance Level: Credit value: Learning outcomes (the learner will) 1 Understand leadership styles within an organisation 1.2 2 Be able to review effectiveness of own leadership capability and performance in meeting organisational values and goals 2.1 Assess own abilityRead MoreLearning Styles Literary Review1726 Words   |  7 PagesTheories and Principles of Learning (TPPL) Assignment Part A – Literature review analysing theories and principles of learning. Learning Styles A student’s individual learning style is their normal reaction to information or experiences. For example, Keefe (1979) defines learning styles as the composite of characteristic cognitive, affective, and physiological factors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how a learner perceives, interacts with, and responds to the learning environmentRead More The Audio-Lingual Method for Teaching Languages1398 Words   |  6 Pageswell as evaluate its usage compared to other mainstream teaching approaches. However before the method is analysed in itself, two factors must be recognised in order to understand the method. These factors cover the methods functionality and its theory in which it is based on. Firstly the analysis of Language was becoming increasingly prominent and structural linguistics was seen as the best way forward after grammatical analysis had been under heavy scrutiny in western culture due to its inaccuracyRead MoreActive Experimentation And Its Effects On Reality And The Starting Of The Cycle1116 Words   |  5 Pagesthe transformation of realism into reality and the starting of the cycle again. For Rudolph et al, (2006) this is the result of resolving previous behavioural dilemmas. For me, it is a question of incorporating the discovered knowledge in to our frames of reference, to allow the missing link to sink in. Once again, I consider that the degree of learning experience of the learner is important to achieve this. I have not been able to map this last step of Kolb’s cycle with a simulation experience asRead MoreApplications of the Self-Efficacy Theory in Long-term Degenerative Neurological Conditions1266 Words   |  5 PagesUsing a Self-efficacy Based Model to Explore the Applicability of the Self-efficacy Theory in Long-term Degenerative Neurological Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Targeted Journal: Journal of Neurology Critical Reviewsâ„ ¢ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Introduction: A long-term degenerative neurological condition (LTDNC) is a term used to describe diseases that affect the nervous system leading to its degeneration. ConditionsRead MoreClassroom Behavior Management Pl Guidelines3306 Words   |  14 PagesEEA305- CLASSROOM BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT PLAN: 1. 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