Types of Learning

Types of Learning

1. Non-associative Learning

   • Definition: a person learns about a stimulus that is part of the external world
     • Examples of possible stimulus: a sound, smell, or sight
   • Habituation: this is a form of non-associative learning. It occurs when a person is repeatedly exposed to a stimulus for a long time. Over time, a person's response to the stimulation will decrease.
     • Example: a person lives by an airport. Over time, they get used to the noises of the planes and don't recognize them anymore while their guests are bothered by the noise.
   • Sensitization: this is another form of non-associative learning. This occurs when a person is exposed to a certain stimulus repeatedly and there is an increase in their behavioral repsonse.
     • Example: you are walking arouin your house and smell something burning. You don't get used to the smell but instead you focus on it more and recognize it as a potential danger.

2. Associative Learning

   • Definition: learning by understanding how two or more pieces of information relate to each other.
   • Classical conditioning: this is one form of associative learning. It takes place when someone learns that two pieces of stimuli go together.
     • Example: when we hear the same dinging that our phone makes we instinctively reach for our phone becuase we are conditioned to that noise.
   • Operant conditioning: this occurs when someone learns that a behavior leads to a specific outcome.
     • Example: dogs recognize that if they do a trick for their owner they get a treat.

3. Learning by Watching Others

   • Definition: learning by watching others.
   • Observational learning: when we learn a behavior by watching someone else perform that behavior.
   • Modeling: displaying a behavior that was previously observed
   • Vicarious conditioning: you see other people being rewarded and punished for their actions and that influences how you act.