Widely acclaimed for its thoroughness and clarity, this contemporary survey of the field of learning offers comprehensive coverage of both classic studies and the most recent developments and trends–with an emphasis on the importance of learning principles in everyday life. Many real-world examples and analogies make the often abstract concepts and theories of the field more concrete and relevant, and most chapters include sections that describe how the theories and principles have been used in the applied field of behavior modification. Chapter topics include classical conditioning, operant conditioning, avoidance and punishment, theories and research on operant conditioning, stimulus control and concept formation, learning by observation, and much more. For individuals with an interest in psychology—especially learning, conditioning, and the experimental analysis of behavior.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.0 based on 5 reviews)

no mention of mirror neurons

The 6th edition was published in 2006. Mostly unchanged from earlier editions, as far as I can tell. The book is characterised as an explanation of decades of experimental work in learning. From the seminal efforts by Pavlov, which are basically known to much of the public as "Pavlovian" responses, to more specialised, but still crucial experiments by others.

If you're planning graduate work in this subject, here's a very useful synopsis. Granted, it's not a trivial read, and perhaps at the undergraduate level, should be restricted to 3rd or 4th years. Plus, if you have never read actual journal papers, the text is an easier introduction. It possesses much of the flavour of such papers; but typically simpler to understand, and the quality of writing may well be higher, given the refinements in each edition.

One slight puzzle is the lack of mention of mirror neurons. Discovered over 10 years and several editions of this book ago. For the first time, there is hard biological evidence for the mapping of empathy onto actual physical structures. A landmark result that is being intensively investigated. The book does have some mention of neurons, but very general.
November 06, 2007

excellent

I have taught from this book in New Zealand and America. If your students are used to being spoon fed they may rebel at its complexity -- but if they are given proper guidance it will be useful first introduction and enduringly useful text for them. If you are graduating students with degrees in psychology and they cannot comprehend this book -- then their degree is not worth the paper it is printed on.
August 20, 2003

A Student Reader

This text is much too complex for even an advanced undergraduate student. I found the chapters to be poorly organized, repetitious and over emphatical on small points, and vague on many important points. For a reader who has a good deal of previous exposure to behavior psychology, this may be a good text. For the majority of readers using this as a text to obtain an undergraduate degree without an emphisis on behavior, it is not. It seems to require quite a bit of previous exposure to behaviorist theories that most readers I have encountered do not have.
October 29, 2002

A must for anyone serious about behavior.

This book is not for the faint of heart but is indispensable for anyone seriously into the field of behavior. In the animal training field it is one of the five top books that I and many other trainers recommend.

Marked four stars only because it is not for the casual reader.
January 17, 2001

Overly technical for the undergraduate, needs simplified.

I found this book to be too technical and dry for the average undergraduate. It contained information that seemed both relevent and useless to the consumer. For instance, the chapters explained a mild version of the topic of discussion, then, went into detail on that topic later on. Instead of breaking the topics up so much it would be preferrable to read it all at once. I read the book numerous times, and still had some problems comprehending the exact meanings of many of the subjects. Learning and Behavior was more technical than the average undergraduate can learn, or should be tested on.
January 14, 1999

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