The Learning Processes

The Learning Processes

1. Classical Conditioning

   • Pavlov and his dog taught us that conditioning is possible after he proved that his dog could salivate when hearing a bell ring.
     • Pavlov and his dog taught us that conditioning is possible after he proved that his dog could salivate when hearing a bell ring. 
   • This is the traditional stimulus/response philosophy of learning

2. Operant Conditioning

   • Thorndike posited that reward is needed for learning, such as positive reinforcement or a rat pressing a bar to receive food.
   • Punishment is also a producer of avoidant behavior, such as a rat receiveing a shock when pressing the bar.

3. Cognitive Learning

   • Kohler and Tolman posited that trial-and-error is essential to learning, and that this process leads to an understanding of the problem
   • This theory was proved by rats learning how to navigate a maze that had food at the end

4. David Hurd