What Is Learning?

 

Learning is a relatively long-term alteration of behavior that results from experience. Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and information. Learning is often associated with formal education that occurs during childhood and adolescence. However, learning is a continuous process that occurs throughout life and is not limited to the classroom setting.

In the early twentieth century, learning became a major topic of study in psychology as behaviorism developed into a major discipline. Learning continues to be an important concept in many fields of psychology, such as cognitive psychology, educational psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.

Psychology is concerned not only with the process of learning, but also with how social, emotive, cultural and biological factors may affect learning.1

Learning is an active process

Even if you learn something in a short amount of time. Learning involves encountering new information, paying attention to it, integrating it with your existing knowledge, storing it in memory, and applying it.

For instance, let’s say you need to fix a toilet. You search for how-to videos, watch them, see if they meet your needs, and then follow the instructions to perform the repair.

Or, think about a time when you were reading and came across a new word. You stopped to look up its meaning, and then learned a new word. 

The concept of "active learning" frequently refers to an engaging process, like conducting a practical experiment to grasp a concept instead of simply reading about it. However, "passive learning" (such as reading a text, attending a lecture, or watching a film) remains a valid form of learning and can yield positive results.

 Learning Leads to Lasting Change

Learning involves the process of retaining the knowledge acquired. By encountering a new vocabulary word in a different context, one can comprehend its significance. In case the toilet malfunctions in the future, it might be necessary to revisit the video tutorial to refresh one's memory on the repair procedure, yet there exists a certain level of understanding regarding the necessary steps to take.

Learning Occurs As a Result of Experience

The journey of learning commences with the acquisition of a fresh encounter, be it encountering a new term while reading, comprehending a concept explained by someone, or attempting a novel approach to tackle a problem. After experimenting with a method to boil eggs or exploring an alternative route to work, you can evaluate its effectiveness and subsequently incorporate it into your future endeavors.

Learning Can Affect Attitudes, Knowledge, or Behavior

There's far more to learning than "book learning." Yes, you can learn new words, concepts, and facts. But you can also learn how to do things and how to feel about things.

It's important to remember that learning can involve both beneficial and negative behaviors. Learning is a natural and ongoing part of life that takes place continually, both for better and for worse.

Sometimes learning means becoming more knowledgeable and leading a better life. In other instances, it means learning behaviors that are detrimental to health and well-being.

How Learning Works

The process of learning is not always the same. Learning can happen in a wide variety of ways. To explain how and when learning occurs, psychologists have proposed a number of different theories.

Learning Through Classical Conditioning

One of the most basic ways people learn new things is through association. Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov discovered a method of learning during his experiments with dogs' digestive systems. He observed that the dogs would salivate at the sight of food, but eventually they also began to salivate when they saw the experimenter's white lab coat.

In later experiments, Pavlov paired the sight of food with the sound of a bell tone. After repeated pairings, the dogs began to salivate at the sound of the bell alone.

Classical conditioning is a type of learning that takes place through the formation of associations.

A response that is naturally and automatically triggered by an unconditioned stimulus is combined with a neutral stimulus. Over time, an association is established and the previously neutral stimulus is now referred to as a conditioned stimulus, which in turn elicits a conditioned response.

 Learning Through Operant Conditioning

The outcomes of your actions can also influence the way you learn. B.F. Skinner, a behaviorist, observed that classical conditioning could explain certain forms of learning, but not all. He proposed that reinforcements and punishments were responsible for certain types of learning.

When a consequence promptly follows a behavior, it can either enhance or diminish the probability of that behavior recurring in the future. This process is known as operant conditioning.

For example, imagine that you just got a new puppy, and you would like to begin training it to behave in specific ways. Whenever the puppy does what you want it to do, you reward it with a small treat or a gentle pat. When the puppy misbehaves, you scold him and do not offer affection. Eventually, the reinforcement leads to an increase in the desired behaviors and a decrease in the unwanted behaviors.

Learning Through Observation

Although classical and operant conditioning can provide insight into various learning scenarios, there are instances where learning occurs without any form of conditioning, reinforcement, or punishment. Psychologist Albert Bandura observed that some types of learning do not require conditioning and the evidence of learning may not be immediately obvious.

Observational learning occurs by observing the actions and consequences of other people’s behavior (such as with latent learning).

Bandura conducted a series of well-known experiments that showcased the influence of observational learning. Children were shown videos of adults interacting with a Bobo doll, with some adults ignoring the doll and others hitting, kicking, and yelling at it. When the children were later given the opportunity to play with a Bobo doll themselves, those who had witnessed the adults abusing the doll were more inclined to mimic the same behavior.

 Challenges

Learning doesn't always come easily. Sometimes, you must overcome obstacles in order to gain new knowledge. These obstacles may take several different forms.

Environmental Challenges

The way people learn is influenced by their access to learning opportunities and the learning environment. These challenges can vary in size and significance. For instance, if you are unable to find instructions or seek assistance to fix a running toilet, you miss out on the opportunity to learn how to resolve the issue. Similarly, in educational and professional settings, you may encounter obstacles such as physical limitations, cultural differences, or economic constraints that hinder your ability to acquire knowledge.

Cognitive Challenges

Cognitive factors affect the learning process, For example, the ability to memorize or attend to information can either facilitate or hinder learning. Specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, affect the way knowledge is processed and retained.

Motivational Challenges

The level of motivation, encompassing both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, can impact individuals' learning outcomes. Individuals who possess a strong intrinsic motivation to learn are driven by the desire to gain knowledge itself. They do not rely on external rewards, such as grades or prizes, to stay motivated in their learning journey.

However, it is important to note that this may vary depending on the specific skills or subjects. For instance, someone might require extrinsic motivators to complete math homework, while being intrinsically motivated to explore their family history. Difficulties in maintaining motivation can arise from conditions like ADHD, depression, or other mental health issues.

How to Improve Learning

Regardless of your involvement in formal education, continuous learning is a lifelong process. Fortunately, there are techniques that can enhance your learning abilities and improve your retention and application of knowledge.

To begin with, prioritize ongoing learning. Learning is a skill that can be honed through practice. A study conducted on older adults revealed that acquiring a new skill not only enhanced their working memory, episodic memory, and reasoning abilities but also strengthened their brain. Interestingly, the level of difficulty of the new skill, such as learning quilting, digital photography, or both, directly correlated with the extent of brain improvement.

There are multiple ways to learn. If you are interested in learning a new language, you can utilize an app that provides lessons in different areas such as reading, listening, and speaking. Additionally, you can enhance your learning experience by listening to a podcast in the target language while going for a walk or practicing writing new vocabulary words by hand. It is also beneficial to regularly review information and employ memorization techniques.

Another effective method to facilitate learning is through teaching. When you teach a friend how to play tennis, for instance, you are reinforcing your own knowledge by sharing it. This process requires revisiting the fundamentals that were once new to you and presenting them to your student.

Support learning and memory by getting enough sleep. Research shows that sleep helps the brain consolidate information,7 so make it a priority to practice good sleep hygiene for a healthy body and brain.

A Word From Verywell

Learning is a complex process that occurs in various ways and can be influenced by numerous factors. While many tend to emphasize the visible and quantifiable aspects of learning, it is crucial to acknowledge that learning is not always immediately apparent. Individuals have the ability to acquire knowledge and skills that may not be readily observable.