Learning

I. Learning from a psychological viewpoint

- list the important historical figures in learning

- define learning as a relatively permanent changes of behavior resulting from experience

- distinguish learning from performance

- demonstrate the use of theories of learning in applied examples

II. Articulate how changes in adaptation can result from genetic factors or learned experiences

III. Compare how cultures differ in promoting learned behavior

IV. Classical Conditioning

- describe the classical conditioning paradigm

- explain how, according to theory, a neutral stimulus becomes capable of evoking a response through pairing with an unconditioned stimulus

- labeling elements in classical conditioning examples

- designing procedures to produce classically conditioned responses

V. Describe the operant conditioning paradigm

- describe how consequences influence behavior, such as reinforcement strengthening a behavior’s occurrence

- identify consequences of punishment in controlling behavior

- predicting future strength of behavior by applying operant conditioning principles

- designing procedures to produce operant responses

- applying operant conditioning to correcting behavior ( shaping, chaining, self-control techniques)

- discuss Skinner’s contributions (behaviorism)

- translating emotional responses related to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination in operant terminology

VI. Observational Learning

- describe examples of learning by observation ( Bandura)

- identify everyday examples

- impact of role models

VII. Cognitive Learning

- comparing learned behavior across cultures

- role of expectation in promoting learning

- differentiating through insight from other forms of learning

- differ from classical and operant conditioning

VIII. Biological / Cultural contributions to learning

- biological constraints on learning

- adaptive value of one-trail learning (Garcia’s taste aversion studies)

- comparing learned behavior across cultures

- describing environmental constraints

- male / female performance differences

- sociocultural factors

- academic supports