Learning to Change

The instructor highlights a VERY important distinction between PSY 369 “The Psychology of Learning” and the current class.
PSY 369 is taught by a Cognitive scientist; this class is taught by a Behavioral scientist.
In Cognitive science, learning typically refers to a process in which organisms make relatively permanent changes in their knowledge due to experience.
In Behavioral science, learning typically refers to a process in which organisms make relatively permanent changes in the way they behave due to experience.
There is some overlap between the two perspectives, but they emphasize different kinds of change (knowledge vs. behavior).

The ability to learn is something that has evolved over time.
Environmental forces can change behaviors in ways that are necessary and complex for survival.
Dealing with environmental change is hard.
A substantial part of our brain likely developed as a consequence of the need to learn increasingly complex things, and often in shorter time frames.

Darwin and the “mystery of mysteries”: the origin of species.
Darwin sought to understand who or what is nature’s breeder.
He served as the Naturalist on the HMS Beagle voyage and made numerous observations.
He noticed variation in the beak size of finches in the Galapagos Islands.
These variations were related to differences in diet and habits, influencing survival strategies across generations.
Notable imagery: a portrait of Charles Darwin in the late 1830s when he was about 30 years old.

Short beaks are advantageous for reaching food on the ground.
Long beaks are advantageous for reaching higher food sources.
The variations in beak size and shape helped the finches continue to survive and reproduce across generations on their respective islands.

This class emphasizes learning through BEHAVIORIST methods.
Cognitive psychology focuses more on changes in knowledge; Behavioral psychology focuses on changes in behavior.
In this course, learning is defined as a relatively enduring change in behavior due to experience.
There is an acknowledgment that changes are not always fully permanent.
The course differentiates:
- Learning: defined as a relatively enduring change in behavior due to experience.
- Survival Mechanism: learning evolved; environmental forces drive behavior changes necessary for survival; brain development supports increasingly complex learning.
The content reiterates: Darwin’s theory relates to how variation and adaptation enable species to persist across generations.

Darwin’s work on natural selection demonstrated that variation within populations can be acted upon by environmental pressures.
The HMS Beagle voyage was a pivotal context for this discovery.
The Galapagos finch example is a classic demonstration of how morphology (beak shape and size) aligns with dietary needs and ecological niches.

Evolutionary perspective provides a framework for understanding why learning abilities exist and how they adapt to environmental demands.
Distinction between knowledge changes and behavior changes clarifies methodological approaches in psychology labs and experiments.
The interaction between environment and organism underpins both survival and learning processes.

How learning is conceptualized (knowledge vs. behavior) affects measurement, teaching methods, and interpretation of results in research and education.
An evolutionary view emphasizes that learning is a prudent, adaptive response to changing environments, rather than a static trait.
Understanding the limits of permanence in learning can inform expectations about training, education, and behavior modification.

There is a critical distinction between cognitive and behavioral perspectives on learning.
For this class, learning is defined as a relatively enduring change in behavior due to experience.
Learning has evolved as a survival mechanism; environmental changes drive adaptive behavioral modifications.
Darwin’s observations of Galapagos finches illustrate how morphological variation supports ecological adaptation and species persistence across generations.
The Beagle voyage and accompanying historical context provide the backdrop for understanding natural selection and the development of learning as an adaptive trait.
The content links to broader themes in evolution, psychology, and practical applications in education and research.