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Learning as a Developmental Process

Learning as a Developmental Process LEARNING AS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS by J.M.H. VOSSEN & P.F.M. KOP (Comparative and Physiological Psychology, University of Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands) SUMMARY Learning, as studied in animal learning research, is under the control of variables that are also of major importance in learning as it takes place in natural environments. Yet, animal learning seems restricted and impoverished as compared with behaviours that are studied in their natural surroundings. It is argued that classical conditioning, instrumental learning and the development of expectations are learning processes that allow an animal to adapt to an individual environment. It is through these processes that an organism develops behaviour patterns that anticipate the living conditions that apply to the individual in particular. These forms of learning constitute a necessary refinement and individualisation of species specific adjustment. KEY WORDS: actions, classical conditioning, compound conditioning, contrast, expec- tancies, habits, operant conditioning, stereotypy. INTRODUCTION The Cenerality of Learning Principles for the Study of Natural Behaviour At first sight, animal learning as it is studied in the laboratory, has very little relevance for the study of animals in their natural habitat. One might compare the behaviour of a rat wandering through http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Netherlands Journal of Zoology (in 2003 continued as Animal Biology) Brill

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1989 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0028-2960
eISSN
1568-542X
DOI
10.1163/156854290X00145
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

LEARNING AS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS by J.M.H. VOSSEN & P.F.M. KOP (Comparative and Physiological Psychology, University of Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands) SUMMARY Learning, as studied in animal learning research, is under the control of variables that are also of major importance in learning as it takes place in natural environments. Yet, animal learning seems restricted and impoverished as compared with behaviours that are studied in their natural surroundings. It is argued that classical conditioning, instrumental learning and the development of expectations are learning processes that allow an animal to adapt to an individual environment. It is through these processes that an organism develops behaviour patterns that anticipate the living conditions that apply to the individual in particular. These forms of learning constitute a necessary refinement and individualisation of species specific adjustment. KEY WORDS: actions, classical conditioning, compound conditioning, contrast, expec- tancies, habits, operant conditioning, stereotypy. INTRODUCTION The Cenerality of Learning Principles for the Study of Natural Behaviour At first sight, animal learning as it is studied in the laboratory, has very little relevance for the study of animals in their natural habitat. One might compare the behaviour of a rat wandering through

Journal

Netherlands Journal of Zoology (in 2003 continued as Animal Biology)Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1989

Keywords: compound conditioning; classical conditioning; contrast; expectancies; habits; actions; stereotypy; operant conditioning

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