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Cause and Function of Animal Learning Processes

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The Biology of Learning

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports ((DAHLEM LIFE,volume 29))

Abstract

The General Process approach to learning has sustained much criticism for its neglect of species-typical variation. Nonetheless, this approach has been fruitful in identifying many commonalities of animal learning. Pavlovian conditioning and habituation are examples of two general processes which are found in all vertebrate, and many invertebrate, species. Similarities in structure, which these learning phenomena illustrate, often suggest commonality of function. In this paper, the General Process approach is expanded to explore functional, as well as causal, questions. A major theme of this paper is that the reconciliation of learning theory and natural behavior depends upon attempts to link causal and functional analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychology, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, 01075, USA

    K. L. Hollis

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  1. K. L. Hollis
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Editor information

P. Marler H. S. Terrace

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© 1984 Berlin, Heildelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer-Verlag

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Hollis, K.L. (1984). Cause and Function of Animal Learning Processes. In: Marler, P., Terrace, H.S. (eds) The Biology of Learning. Dahlem Workshop Reports, vol 29. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70094-1_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70094-1_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70096-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70094-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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