Question

2. What are the principal constructs and contributions of each learning theories?

3. According to the concept of operant conditioning, what are the three techniques to increase the probability of a response, and what are two techniques to decrease or extinguish the probability of a response?

4. What are some ways the behaviorist theory (which focuses on the environment and responses to it) and the cognitive perspective (which emphasizes the individual’s internal processing) could be combined to facilitate knowledge acquisition or change a health behavior?

5. How do the major learning theories compare to one another with regard to their similarities and differences?

Answer 1

Ans) 2) Overview of Learning Theories. Although there are many different approaches to learning, there are three basic types of learning theory: behaviorist, cognitive constructivist, and social constructivist. This section provides a brief introduction to each type of learning theory.

3) There are five basic processes in operant conditioning: positive and negative reinforcement strengthen behavior; punishment, response cost, and extinction weaken behavior.

- The increase in the probability of a behavior's being repeated through the removal of a stimulus. Punishment that occurs with the administration of a stimulus and thus decreases the probability of a behavior recurring.

4) One assumption of the b6ehaviourist approach is that we are born as a blank slate (known as tabula rasa) and we learn everything from the environment. This assumptions believes that all humans, male and female, are born the same and it is the environment and social norms that shape our personality.

5) There are three main categories or philosophical frameworks under which learning theories fall: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning. Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning.

- Although theories differ in many ways, including their general assumptions and guiding principles, many rest on a common foundation. These theories differ in how they predict that learning occurs—in the processes of learning—and in what aspects of learning they stress.