Human and Animal Learning

Theories of Learning in Behaviourism

Deep understanding of classical conditioning, a learning process conceived by Ivan Pavlov, is essential. It involves associating a neutral stimulus with a reflex response until the neutral stimulus triggers the response on its own.
Likewise, knowledge about operant conditioning, proposed by B.F. Skinner, is also vital. It includes learning through the consequence of behaviour, either reinforcement (increasing behaviour) or punishment (decreasing behaviour).
There’s value in exploring the concept of Social Learning, as developed by Albert Bandura. It busts upon solely conditioning explanations of learning to include observation, imitation and modelling.

Principles of Human and Animal Learning

Familiarity with the key premise that both human and animal behaviour is principally learned, rather than biologically or genetically predetermined, is indeed important.
Understanding the underlying point that learning is an observable shift in behaviour resulting from experience.
Giving a nod to the concept of continuity - the belief that the learning processes in humans and animals are fundamentally similar.
Recognising the idea of parsimony, which emphasises using the simplest possible explanation for a behaviour.

Applications of Behaviourist Learning Theories

Behaviourist explanations have been used to interpret, deal with, and change various behaviours, ranging from phobias to addiction to education.
They’ve been instrumental in the development of treatments such as systematic desensitisation for phobias and token economies for managing behaviours.
Behaviourist principles have been employed extensively in our educational system through strategies like positive reinforcement.

Criticisms of Behaviourist Learning Theories

There is criticism for the supposedly mechanistic view of human behaviour, reducing complex human and animal behaviour to basic stimulus-response units.
Critics also argue that behaviourism overlooks important internal factors, such as thoughts, feelings, and motivations, which should also be taken into account for explaining behaviour.
A firm limitation of behaviourism lies in its overreliance on animal research, bringing into question the applicability of these findings to human behaviours or experiences.

Restate these points to cement your knowledge and gain insights into the behaviourist theories of human and animal learning, their applications, and the criticisms levelled against them.