learning theory

In psychology, any theory or body of theories about how behaviour in animals and human beings is acquired or modified by experience. Two main theories are classical and operant conditioning.

The theory of classical conditioning was originally described by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. The theory of operant conditioning was developed in the USA by B F Skinner. S–R theories regard learning as the establishment of an association between stimuli and responses, which is strengthened if followed by a ‘satisfying state of affairs’ (US educationalist Edward Thorndike's law of effect) or by reinforcement that involves drive reduction; for example, food reducing hunger (C L Hull's systematic theory of behaviour). There are also cognitive learning theories such as E C Tolman's ‘purposive behaviourism’.

There have also been attempts to explain learning in specific areas, such as paired-associate word learning and learning of social skills, rather than learning in general.