Adult Learning and Behaviorism Theories Overview

Adult Learning Theories

• Andragogy emphasizes self-directed learning and practical application
• Experiential learning focuses on learning through experience
• Transformative learning encourages reflection and personal growth
• Connectivism is a modern learning theory
• These theories help managers and HR design training that respects adult learners' need for autonomy, relevance, and immediate applicability

Behaviorism

• Human learning and habit formation are the core of behaviorist theory.

• This theory proposes that behavior is learned through interaction with the external environment (people, objects, surroundings).

• John B. Watson established behaviorism in 1913, separating it as a distinct study area in psychology

• Environmental reinforcement and rewards influence human behavior

• Behavioral responses to stimuli are related to the learning process.

• Behaviorism presents two key conditioning theories:

  • Classical Conditioning (stimulus-response theory) by Pavlov
  • Operant Conditioning theory by B.F. Skinner

Classical Conditioning

• Individuals learn through association.
• For example, praise (stimulus) for meeting deadlines (response) in a workplace. Reinforcing the behavior, motivating continued high performance
• Classical conditioning occurs when a dog learns to associate the bag of dog food with excitement

Operant Conditioning

• Learning occurs through positive or negative reinforcement
• Examples: Awarding high-performing employees, giving sales bonuses, recognition for excellent work; all strengthen positive behaviors
• Deductions from salary for tardiness strengthens the habit to be on time

Cognitivism

• This theory emphasizes the mind's role in learning (thinking, storing knowledge, and applying it to situations).

• Human mind is like an information processor

• Cognitivism focuses on how individuals receive, organize, store, and retrieve information

• Two key cognitive learning theories:

  • Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development
  • Information Processing Model

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

• Piaget described four stages of intellectual development in childhood:

  • Sensorimotor stage: Learning through senses
  • Preoperational stage: Language and pretend play emerge
  • Concrete operational stage: Logic and concrete reasoning develop
  • Formal operational stage: Abstract and hypothetical thinking develops

Information Processing Model

• The human mind is likened to a computer

• Information is encoded, stored, and retrieved

• The model has three key components:

  • Sensory Memory: Briefly holds incoming information
  • Short-Term Memory: Actively processes and temporarily stores information
  • Long-Term Memory: Stores information for future retrieval

Constructivism

• Learners acquire knowledge through experience and cooperation

• Experiences lead to developing interpretations by collaborating with and constructing meaning together.

• There are several theories within Constructivism

  • Social Constructivism Theory
  • Bruner's Learning Theory
  • Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle
  • Adult Learning/ Andragogy
  • Transformative Learning theory

Social Constructivism

• Learning is influenced by observing, copying, and imitating behaviors and emotions of others
• Emphasizes social interaction and collaboration, encouraging knowledge sharing

Bruner's Learning Theory

• Emphasizes discovery learning as a way to construct knowledge
• Promotes exploration and problem-solving for retention

Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle

• Learning is an iterative process of experience, reflection, conceptualization, and application

Adult Learning (Andragogy)

• Adult learners are different from children in needing practice, self-direction, and experience
• Key principles include: self-direction, experience as a resource, relevance-orientation, and problem-centering

Transformative Learning

• Emphasizes deep personal growth
• Challenges assumptions to encourage reflection and critical thinking