INTRODUCTION TO THEORIES OF LEARNING

LEARNING AND TEACHING 

THEORIES OF LEARNING

What goes into the process of learning?how does an individual learn a set of facts and figures, skills, habits, interests, attitudes and similar other things in his life? Such questions have always been a subject of inquiry and investigation for psychologists and as a result, a number of theories have come into existence.

Two major heads of theories of learning are :

1. BEHAVIOURIST OR CONNECTIONIST THEORY
2. COGNITIVE THEORIES 

Behaviourist or connectionist theory belongs to the school of behaviourism. Behaviorism is a worldview that assumes a learner is essentially passive, responding to environmental stimuli.They interpret learning in terms of connection or association between stimulus and response. Under this category, we may include theories like THORNDIKE'S TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING, GUTHRIE'S CONTINUITY THEORY OF LEARNING, HULLS'S DRIVE REDUCTION THEORY OF LEARNING, CLASSICAL AND OPERANT CONDITIONING etc.

Cognitive theories, on the other hand, belong to the school of cognitive psychology. In place of a purely mechanical or instrumental approach these theories emphasize the role of purpose, insight, understanding, reasoning, memory and other cognitive factors in the process of learning. Under this category, THEORY OF INSIGHTFUL LEARNING, LEWIN'S FIELD THEORY OF LEARNING, TOLMAN'S SIGN LEARNING etc. may be included.