LEARNING: A RELATIVELY PERMANENT
BEHAVIOR CHANGE DUE TO
EXPERIENCE
RELATIVELY PERMANENT: Learning should
have staying power. Real learning is not fleeting or
temporary, as when one “learns something just for
the test.”
CHANGE IN AN ORGANISM’S BEHAVIOR: We
know that learning has occurred when the behavior
has changed. Before learning, behavior happens in
one way. After learning, behavior occurs
differently.
DUE TO EXPERIENCE: Learning does not occur
in a vacuum. Learning results from experience,
either directly or indirectly.
HABITUATION V. ADAPTATION
HABITUATION: With habituation, we eventually lose
our sensitivity to an oft-repeated stimulus. Once
habituation occurs, we will have reduced sensitivity to
that stimulus, even if the stimulus changes.
ADAPTATION: Adaptation occurs when we get used to
a continuous, unchanging stimulus. As long as the
stimulus is unchanging, we will eventually not notice it at
all. When the stimulus changes, however, our sensitivity
to the stimulus will go back to original levels.
ADAPTATION IS RECOVERABLE. HABITUATION
IS NOT