NCERT Notes Class 11 Psychology Chapter 5 Learning

NCERT Notes Class 11 Psychology Chapter 5 Learning help students revise the nature of learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, cognitive learning, verbal learning, skill learning, factors facilitating learning and learning disabilities for the 2026-27 syllabus.

• Download the Learning notes PDF for offline Class 11 Psychology revision.
• Revise Pavlov, Skinner, reinforcement, extinction, generalisation, discrimination, cognitive maps and skill-learning phases.
• Use the comparison tables for quick answers on classical and operant conditioning.

Learning Class 11 Psychology Notes: Chapter Overview

Learning is defined in NCERT as a relatively permanent change in behaviour or behavioural potential produced by experience. The chapter explains why learning is inferred from performance and why fatigue, drugs, habituation and maturation are not the same as learning.

Learning Chapter Video Revision

Source: Magnet Brains on YouTube

Nature and Features of Learning

Learning always involves experience. It may come from repeated practice or from a single strong event, such as a child becoming careful after getting fingers burnt by a matchstick. Behavioural change due to fatigue or drugs is temporary, so it is not counted as learning.

• Learning: relatively permanent change produced by experience.
• Performance: observed response from which learning is inferred.
• Habit: repeated satisfaction after an act strengthens the behaviour.

Classical Conditioning in Learning

Classical conditioning was studied by Ivan Pavlov. A neutral cue becomes a conditioned stimulus after repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov's example, food is the unconditioned stimulus, salivation to food is the unconditioned response, bell is the conditioned stimulus and salivation to bell is the conditioned response.

The main determinants are the time relation between CS and US, the type of unconditioned stimulus and the intensity of the conditioned stimulus. Delayed conditioning is usually stronger than backward conditioning.

Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement

Operant conditioning explains voluntary responses that are controlled by their consequences. Skinner showed that a response becomes more likely when it is followed by reinforcement. Punishment may reduce behaviour, but it may also create fear or avoidance.

Observational and Cognitive Learning

Observational learning happens when a learner observes a model and later reproduces the behaviour. Attention, retention, reproduction and motivation are needed. Performance is influenced by whether the model's behaviour is rewarded or punished.

Cognitive learning stresses mental processes. Latent learning remains hidden until there is a reason to show it, cognitive map refers to mental representation of a route or place and insight is sudden solution after the learner understands the relation among parts.

Verbal Learning, Skill Learning and Learning Disabilities

Verbal learning includes paired associates, serial learning and free recall. Skill learning builds smooth and efficient complex task performance through practice. NCERT describes cognitive, associative and autonomous phases in skill acquisition.

Learning disability is a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting acquisition of reading, writing, speaking, reasoning, mathematical activity or related learning skills. Dyslexia is a reading-related example. Remedial teaching and patient support are needed.

Related Psychology Resources for Learning

Also Check: use these resources with the notes PDF when revising Chapter 5.

Class 11 Psychology Notes for All Chapters