Question

What is learning? What are its distinguishing features?

Answer 1

Learning can be defined as any relatively permanent change in behaviour or behavioural potential produced by experience. Changes that occur due to practice and experience, and are relatively permanent, are a component of learning.

Its distinguishing features are:

(i) Learning always involves some kind of experience. For instance, a child gets lost at a place on leaving the hands of the parents, would learn not to leave the hand of elders the next time.

(ii) Behavioural changes that occur due to learning are relatively permanent and are different from temporary behavioural changes caused by habituation, drugs, or fatigue. For example, feeling tired after studying is a temporary change and does not involve learning.

(iii) Learning is an inferred process that involves a series of psychological events. It is also different from performance.