Definition and Types of Learning

Learning is often defined as a relatively lasting change in behavior that is the result of experience. Learning became a major focus of study in psychology during the early part of the twentieth century as behaviorism rose to become a major school of thought. Today, learning remains an important concept in numerous areas of psychology, including cognitive, educational, social, and developmental psychology. 

And also learning can be defined as a relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience. 

The three main types of learning include classical conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning. 

Classical Conditioning 

Classical conditioning is a learning process in psychology where a neutral stimulus is associated with a stimulus that evokes an emotional response. An example was when Pavlov made a dog associate the smell of food with the ringing of a bell. The bell was the neutral stimulus, and once an association was made between the ringing of the bell and food, the sound of any bell would cause a response in the dog. This type of learning is useful for treating phobias or anxiety problems. Using a phobia or anxiety situation and associating it with a pleasant stimulus can help the troubled person learn a new association for that problem. 

Operant Conditioning 

Operant conditioning, on the other hand, is when the probability of a behavior decreasing or increasing is followed by punishment or positive reinforcement. Operant conditioning can best be described as "learning by consequences." This was first studied by Edward Thorndike and later by B.F. Skinner. Skinner devised an experiment whereby he put rats and pigeons in a box where they would have to press a lever for food to be dispensed to them. They quickly learned to press the lever in order to get food. This works for parents who punish their children for behaviors they find undesirable. 

Observational Learning 

Social learning theory, also known as observational learning, is when a person's behavior changes after viewing the behavior of others. If someone witnesses something that is successful or rewarding to another person, they will then try it for themselves. For example, children view the behavior of their parents; whereas adolescents are more likely to emulate the behavior of their peers. Attractive people and celebrities are also people with whom many may identify. An example of the social learning theory is the use of advertisements on television and in magazines: the objects or people in these advertisements are presented as desirable, and as a result, viewers copy them or buy these objects.