The brain’s physical ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
By the mid-20th century, the "Cognitive Revolution" argued that behaviorism was too simplistic because it ignored the "black box" of the human mind. Cognitive psychologists view learning as an .
The most foundational theories of learning stem from , which focuses on observable actions rather than internal thoughts. This is divided into two main types:
The in psychology (often categorized under introductory courses like Psy 103) is the study of how organisms acquire, retain, and modify knowledge, behaviors, and skills. Rather than viewing learning as just "studying," psychologists define it as a relatively permanent change in behavior or mental associations resulting from experience.
B.F. Skinner expanded this by focusing on consequences . Here, learning occurs through reinforcement and punishment. If a behavior is followed by a reward (reinforcement), it is likely to be repeated; if followed by an unpleasant outcome (punishment), it diminishes. This "feedback loop" is the basis for everything from habit formation to workplace productivity. 2. The Cognitive Perspective: Mental Processing
At its core, the study of learning seeks to answer one fundamental question: How do we change? While early philosophers debated whether knowledge was innate or learned, modern psychology provides a structured framework through three dominant lenses: Behaviorism, Cognitive Theory, and Social Learning. 1. The Behavioral Perspective: Conditioning