Edward Lee Ted Thorndike

Edward Lee Ted Thorndike
(31 August 1874 - 9 August 1949)
 American psychologist, who developed learning theory that lead to the development of operant
conditioning within behaviorism.
 Connectionism is a learning theory which is based on the concept of bonds formed between
stimulus and response. This theory of learning is related to conditioning that utilizes the
concept of association of connection. It emphasizes that the behavior begins with conditioned
reflexes and natural responses and new behaviors result from the acquisition of new bonds
through experience.
 Thorndike’s Puzzle Box:
 The classic example of Thorndike’s S-R theory was a cat learning to escape from a
“puzzle box” by pressing a lever inside the box. After much trial and error behavior, the
cat learns to associate pressing the lever (S) with opening the door (R). This S-R
connection is established because it results in a satisfying state of affairs (escape from
the box). The law of exercise specifies that the connection was established because the
S-R pairing occurred many times (the law of effect) and was rewarded (law of effect) as
well as forming a single sequence (law of readiness).
 Principles
1. Learning requires both practice and rewards (laws of effect /exercise)
2. A series of S-R connections can be chained together if they belong to the same
action sequence (law of readiness).
3. Transfer of learning occurs because of previously encountered situations.
4. Intelligence is a function of the number of connections learned.
Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)
 Operant conditioning, also known as instrumental conditioning, is a method of learning

normally attributed to B.F. Skinner, where the consequences of a response determine the
probability of it being repeated. Through operant conditioning behavior which is reinforced
(rewarded) will likely be repeated, and behavior which is punished will occur less frequently.
 The theory of B.F. Skinner is based upon the idea that learning is a function of change in overt
behavior. Changes in behavior are the result of an individual’s response to events (stimuli) that
occur in the environment.
 When a particular Stimulus-Response (S-R) pattern is reinforced (rewarded), the individual is
conditioned to respond.
Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

 Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, emphasizes the importance of observing,
modelling, and imitating the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. Social
learning theory considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence
human learning and behavior.
 Social learning theory explains human behavior in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction
between cognitive, behavioral, an environmental influences. The component processes
underlying observational learning are:
 (1) Attention, including modeled events (distinctiveness, affective valence, complexity,
prevalence, functional value) and observer characteristics (sensory capacities, arousal
level, perceptual set, past reinforcement),
 (2) Retention, including symbolic coding, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal,
motor rehearsal),
 (3) Motor Reproduction, including physical capabilities, self-observation of reproduction,
accuracy of feedback, and
 (4) Motivation, including external, vicarious and self reinforcement.
Bruner'S Cognitive Learning Theory
 A major theme in the theoretical framework of Bruner is that learning is an active process in
which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current/past knowledge. The
learner selects and transforms information, constructs hypotheses, and makes decisions,
relying on a cognitive structure to do so.
 Enactive (0 - 1 year)
 Thinking is based entirely on physical actions, and infants learn by doing, rather than by
internal representation (or thinking).
 It involves encoding physical action based information and storing it in our memory.
 Iconic (1 - 6 years)
 Information is stored as sensory images (icons), usually visual ones, like pictures in the
mind.
 Thinking is also based on the use of other mental images (icons), such as hearing, smell or
touch.
 Symbolic (7 years onwards)
 This develops last. This is where information is stored in the form of a code or symbol,
such as language.
 In the symbolic stage, knowledge is stored primarily as words, mathematical symbols, or in
other symbol systems, such as music.
 Symbols are flexible in that they can be manipulated, ordered, classified, etc. so the user
isn’t constrained by actions or images (which have a fixed relation to that which they
represent).
Note: Quiz on Tuesday. From Thorndike to Bruner’s theory

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Edward Lee Ted Thorndike

(31 August 1874 - 9 August 1949)

Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)

 Operant conditioning, also known as instrumental conditioning, is a method of learning

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

Bruner'S Cognitive Learning Theory

Note: Quiz on Tuesday. From Thorndike to Bruner’s theory

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