Limits of Learning in Species and Individuals

Limits of Learning for Individuals and Species

• Biological and learning psychology limitations are inherent in every individual, restricting their ability to perform certain behaviors based on their species' physiology.
• Examples of physiological limitations include:
• Fish cannot leap over hurdles on land.
• Humans cannot breathe underwater or fly like birds.
• Cows cannot move on their bellies like snakes.

Physical Characteristics and Learning

• The physical structure of individuals or species sets limits on what can be learned.
• Examples of physical limitations include:
• Chimpanzees cannot learn to speak like humans due to their anatomical vocal structures being different from ours.

Inheritance and Learned Behavior

• Learned behavior is not inherited and is not passed on to future generations.
• Each individual has to learn many of the same skills acquired by their parents, which limits what one individual can learn in a lifetime.

Individual Differences and Learning

• Heredity plays a role in learning ability, but it is a controversial topic.
• Genes contribute to differences within and between species, but environment also plays a role (e.g., enriched early learning environments).

Critical Periods and Learning

• There are stages of development for optimal learning, including:
• Imprinting in birds.
• Maternal behavior in primates.
• The first 12 years of human life may be critical for learning language.

Neurological Damage and Learning

• Prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs can interfere with neurological development.
• Exposure to neurotoxins (substances that damage nerve tissues) in infancy/early childhood can threaten learning ability.
• Examples of neurotoxins include:
• Lead in old paint and drinking water.
• Pesticides, herbicides, solvents, medications, recreational drugs, and some foods and food supplements.
• Head injury and malnutrition during fetal development/early childhood can also impact learning ability.