Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger
Cornell University Family Life Development Center
April 2010
Cornell University Family Life Development Center,
Cornell University Cooperative Extension of New York City, New York State Center for School Safety,
University of Rochester Medical Center Div. of Adolescent Health
What Theories Exist?
What’s in a theory?
Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner
Social Learning Theories
Albert Bandura, Lev Vygotsky
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
Taught a dog to expect food after a bell was rung
Once the dog had become habituated, bell alone was
needed to produce salivation
Practical Implications
Basis for theories that followed
Behaviors can be reinforced by creating associations
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
John Watson (1878-1958)
Generalized Pavlov results to humans
Taught baby to associate a loud noise with the
appearance of a rat
Eventually, mere presence of rat was enough
Practical Implications
Introduced conditioning into human domain
Emotions and emotional reactions seen as malleable
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
Concept of agency
People act on environment to get rewarded
-Pressing a lever to get candy
Practical Implications
People can be taught behaviors through simple
rewards and punishments
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
What behaviorism has taught us
Behaviors are encouraged or discouraged through…
-Positive or negative rewards
-Provision or withholding of rewards
Limitations
Oversimplification of cause/effect
Convoluted implications because of simplicity of design
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
Reinforcement, summarized…
Addressing the limits of behaviorism
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Behaviorism
Where we are
Conditioning involving one
human and behaviors
Where we are going
Social interactions as tools
for learning
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Social Learning
Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
Developed a stage model for cognitive development
Social learning occurs within the appropriate stage of
cognitive development
Practical Implications
Understanding of objects in social world
Social stimuli we give children are not as important as
the child’s interpretation of them
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Social Learning
Albert Bandura (1925-)
“In modeling, people pattern their styles of
thinking and behaving after the functional ones
demonstrated by others”
Turned social learning away from behaviorism
Social learning is understood in relation to the
social context within which it is embedded
Practical Implications
Providing modeling behavior can change
behavior, but there are other factors as well
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Social Learning
Bandura, continued
Behavior is strengthened by…
-Reward, or avoidance of punishment
Behavior is weakened by…
-Aversive stimuli, and loss of reward
“Principle behavior effects come primarily
from peer-friendship groups and the family”
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Social Learning
Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)
Formulated the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
-Two levels of Development (Actual and Potential)
-A cognitive arena within which a child can operate with help
-Many of the gains in cognitive and social functioning happen in the ZPD
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
Social Learning
Vygotsky, continued
Agency within social relationships
plays a large role in development of
cognitive skills
Children are active learners, who
explore their own cognitive limitations
and expand knowledge in the ZPD
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
What to do?
Model positive behaviors
Use methods to weaken negative
behavior, strengthen positive behavior
Actively discourage negative
behaviors, do not wait for them
to occur
However, consider developmental stage
Learning Theories:
Practical Applications
Jon Hirschberger • April 2010
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