5.10. Learning Theories 
BRIAN FEDOREK 
In the previous sections, strain theories focused on social structural conditions that contribute to people 
experiencing strain, stress, or pressure. Strain theories explain how people can respond to these structures. 
Learning theories compliment strain theories because learning theories focus on the content and process of 
learning. 
Early philosophers, like Aristotle, believed human beings learned through association. The thought implies 
humans have a blank slate and our experiences build upon each other. It is through these experiences we 
recognize patterns and linked phenomena. For example, ancient humans did not have the technological 
advancements of global positioning satellites, which many people have on their phones. However, they used 
other celestial bodies like the stars and moon to travel. When early humans looked to the heavens, people 
began to recognize patterns in the stars. These patterns were consistent and enabled long-distance travel over 
land and sea. 
A few centuries later, Ivan Pavlov was studying the digestive system of dogs, when he noticed the dogs 
started the digestive process before food was in sight. The dogs began to salivate when they heard the 
assistants’ footsteps. The dogs were associating the oncoming footsteps with the upcoming food. This type 
of learning was called classical conditioning. 
 
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