Psychology of learning
Encyclopedia
The psychology of learning is a theoretical science.
Learning is a process that depends on experience and leads to long-term changes in behavior potential. Behavior
potential designates the possible behavior of an individual, not actual behavior. The main assumption behind all learning psychology is that the effects of the environment, conditioning, reinforcement, etc. provide psychologists with the best information from which to understand human behavior.
As opposed to short term changes in behavior potential (caused e.g. by fatigue) learning implies long term changes. As opposed to long term changes caused by aging and development, learning implies changes related directly to experience.
Learning theories
try to better understand how the learning process works. Major research traditions are behaviorism
, cognitivism
and self-regulated learning
. Media psychology is a newer addition among the learning theories because there is so much technology now included in the various types of learning expiences. Neurosciences have provided important insights into learning, too, even when using much simpler organisms than humans (aplysia
). Distance learning, eLearning, online learning, blended learning, and media psychology are emerging dimensions of the field.
Learning is a process that depends on experience and leads to long-term changes in behavior potential. Behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
potential designates the possible behavior of an individual, not actual behavior. The main assumption behind all learning psychology is that the effects of the environment, conditioning, reinforcement, etc. provide psychologists with the best information from which to understand human behavior.
As opposed to short term changes in behavior potential (caused e.g. by fatigue) learning implies long term changes. As opposed to long term changes caused by aging and development, learning implies changes related directly to experience.
Learning theories
Learning theory (education)
In psychology and education, learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views . Learning as a process focuses on what...
try to better understand how the learning process works. Major research traditions are behaviorism
Behaviorism
Behaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
, cognitivism
Cognitivism (psychology)
In psychology, cognitivism is a theoretical framework for understanding the mind that came into usage in the 1950s. The movement was a response to behaviorism, which cognitivists said neglected to explain cognition...
and self-regulated learning
Self-regulated learning
The term self-regulated can be used to describe learning that is guided by metacognition , strategic action , and motivation to learn...
. Media psychology is a newer addition among the learning theories because there is so much technology now included in the various types of learning expiences. Neurosciences have provided important insights into learning, too, even when using much simpler organisms than humans (aplysia
Aplysia
Aplysia is a genus of medium-sized to extremely large sea slugs, specifically sea hares, which are one clade of large sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks. The general description of sea hares can be found in the article on the superfamily Aplysioidea....
). Distance learning, eLearning, online learning, blended learning, and media psychology are emerging dimensions of the field.