Question

Summarize Robert C. Bolles theory of learning; what is the major learning theory, including components of how it was discovered and how learning occurs. Describe the application, relevance, and how it currently applies to education and psychology.

Answer 1

Robert C Bolles has given the concept of avoidance learning and behavior. He has performed experiments where the rats were given shocks. The rats learned quickly to respond and jumped off from the region of shock stimulus. In other experiment a group of rats were trained to press button before experiancing shock. The number of rats with this learned behavior after training was less as compared to untrained rats who did not learn from this training. The reason in the reinforcement learning and the force or situation which guides us towards this learned behavior. Sometimes the reinforced force is high but the situation for effectively using it is not known, and sometimes the vice-versa happens when the situation is known but the reinforced strengthening forces are not present to adjust and learn to cope in such a situation. The learning theory predicts for rats that they go back to their geographical locations if ambient and proper conditions are not provided. It depends upon the innate defence mechanisms of the species to face a particular situation. The rats have an inherent avoidance response. Rat has a fleeing response and a freeze response depending upon the stimulus. A wheel is put in the shock box containing the species of rat, the rat undergoes a freezing response and does not attack another species. The rat can also reorient and move the bars so as to change their orientation thus exerting less pressure and stress on them. This behavior is learnt by the rat with reflex action and they are fast to respond in such a situation. If more rats are introduced in the shock box then there will be fleeing behavior and the rats will try to run and attack each other. There will be fast response in them.