Chapter 5 of Class 11 Psychology, titled Learning, is one of the most practical and relatable chapters in the syllabus. It talks about how we acquire new behaviours, habits, and skills through experience and practice. Whether it is a baby learning to walk, a student learning maths formulas, or even someone learning to drive, learning is a key part of daily life. The chapter also covers types of learning, principles of conditioning, observational learning, and cognitive aspects of learning.
I’m covering this topic because this chapter offers a deep understanding of how learning really works—not just in classrooms, but in real life too. For students, understanding the psychology behind learning can improve how they study and prepare for exams. For example, knowing how reinforcement works can help in building good study habits. It also explains how repetition, feedback, and motivation affect our ability to learn. This chapter is also useful for those preparing for psychology entrance exams or even for teachers who want to understand their students better. With the NCERT PDF, students can revise this chapter properly with all definitions, diagrams, and examples in one place.
Key Concepts Covered in Chapter 5: Learning
Chapter 5 of Psychology gives a detailed view of the entire process of learning, with both theoretical and real-life aspects. Here’s a quick look at what it includes:
1. What is Learning?
- Learning is defined as any relatively permanent change in behaviour or knowledge due to experience or practice
- It is not the result of temporary changes like fatigue or drugs
2. Types of Learning
- Classical Conditioning (by Ivan Pavlov)
- Learning by association
- Example: A dog salivating at the sound of a bell that signals food
- Operant Conditioning (by B.F. Skinner)
- Learning based on consequences like rewards or punishments
- Example: A student studies regularly to get good marks and appreciation
- Observational Learning (by Albert Bandura)
- Learning by watching others
- Example: Children imitating adults’ behaviour
3. Cognitive Learning
- Focuses on mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving
- Includes learning through insight (e.g., Kohler’s chimpanzee experiment)
4. Factors Affecting Learning
- Motivation: Higher motivation leads to better learning
- Feedback: Helps in correcting mistakes and reinforcing correct responses
- Practice: Repetition improves memory and skill
- Readiness: The learner must be mentally prepared to learn
5. Learning Curves
- Shows how performance improves with time and practice
- Different shapes of learning curves explain the speed and pattern of learning
6. Transfer of Learning
- When learning one task affects learning another
- Can be positive (helps) or negative (creates confusion)
Download NCERT Class 11 Psychology Chapter 5 PDF
For easy revision and exam preparation, you can download the official NCERT PDF for Chapter 5 from the link below
Click here to download NCERT Class 11 Psychology Chapter 5 – Learning PDF
