Theories of Learning: Behaviourist, Gestalt & Information-Processing
📘 6.1 Theories of Learning: Behaviourist, Gestalt & Information-Processing
(अधिगम के सिद्धांत: व्यवहारवादी, संपूर्ण स्वरूपवाद, और सूचना-संसाधन मॉडल)
🧠 What is Learning?
Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour or knowledge that results from experience or practice.
🧪 I. Behaviourist Theories of Learning
These theories emphasize observable behaviour and see learning as a result of stimulus-response associations.
1️⃣ Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov)
- Concept: A neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, producing a response.
- 🧪 Pavlov’s Dogs: Bell (neutral) + Food → Salivation; Later, Bell alone → Salivation
Indian Example:
- School bell rings → students pack up, even if the teacher is still teaching.
2️⃣ Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner)
- Concept: Behaviour is shaped by consequences — rewards or punishments.
- 🔄 Key terms: Reinforcement, punishment, extinction
| Type of Reinforcement | Example |
|---|---|
| Positive | Praising a child for homework |
| Negative | Removing extra chores when a child studies |
| Punishment | Cutting screen time for bad grades |
🧠 UPSC Relevance:
- Officers receiving public praise → more ethical decisions (positive reinforcement).
- Fine for corruption → deterrence (punishment).
🧩 II. Gestalt Theory of Learning
“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”
Learning involves insight, reorganization, and seeing the entire pattern.
✴️ Insight Learning (Wolfgang Köhler)
- 🐒 Kohler’s experiment: Chimpanzee Sultan figured out how to use sticks to reach bananas — not trial & error, but sudden insight.
- Learning is not mechanical — it’s about seeing relationships and structure.
🧠 Example:
- A UPSC aspirant solving a tricky CSAT problem suddenly sees a new method — that’s insight learning.
Indian Context:
- Jugaad (innovative hacks) is often a form of Gestalt learning — combining known parts into new patterns.
💻 III. Information-Processing Theory
- Based on cognitive psychology, likens human learning to a computer system.
- Involves stages: Input → Encoding → Storage → Retrieval
📊 Key Components:
| Stage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sensory Memory | Registers raw info for brief time |
| Short-term Memory (STM) | Holds limited info temporarily |
| Long-term Memory (LTM) | Stores knowledge permanently |
| Executive Function | Controls attention and decision-making |
🧠 Practical Example:
- Reading a paragraph → STM holds words → chunked into meaning → LTM stores key ideas → retrieved in exam.
Indian Classroom Use:
- Chunking syllabus into units → better retention.
- Using mnemonics for subjects like polity (e.g., “ICE-SPR” for Directive Principles: International peace, Child, Environment, State, Promotion of interests of weaker sections, Rural development).
🔄 Comparison Table
| Aspect | Behaviourist | Gestalt | Information Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | External behaviour | Insight and pattern | Internal mental processes |
| Learner Role | Passive | Active | Active processor |
| Method | Conditioning | Problem-solving | Encoding & retrieval |
| Example | Rewarding good behaviour | Eureka moment | Memorising polity articles |
🎯 UPSC Application
- GS Paper IV (Ethics):
- Behaviourism → designing reward systems in bureaucracy
- Gestalt → solving complex administrative problems holistically
- Information-processing → public policy decisions based on analysis
- Essay Paper:
- “Learning is not just reaction — it’s reflection, recognition, and reconstruction.”
✅ Summary Points
- Behaviourist: Learning through conditioning (stimulus-response).
- Gestalt: Learning through insight and holistic understanding.
- Information-Processing: Learning as a cognitive process involving memory and attention.
✍️ Answer Writing Tips
Intro: Define learning and introduce three major theories.
Body: Explain each theory with Indian examples.
Diagram: Use a triangle or Venn diagram to compare the three.
Conclusion: Combine insights — real-world learning involves all three dimensions.
