Learning

Synonyms

Behaviorism; Cognitive-behaviorism; Conditioning; Latent learning; Literacy; Neo-behaviorism; Social learning

Definition

Learning refers to changes in behavior and cognition as the result of experience. Traditional learning theory is closely associated with behaviorism, cognitive-behavioral research, and an empiricist-associationist philosophy.

Description

As a psychological discipline, learning refers to changes in behavior and changes in cognition as the result of experience. Traditional learning theory is closely associated with behaviorism, cognitive-behavioral research, and an empiricist-associationist philosophy. A broad distinction may be drawn between conditioning, as represented by Watson [10] and Skinner [7] and the eclectic cognitive-behavioral learning perspectives of such psychologists as Tolman [9] and Bandura [1]. Regardless of their theoretical diversity, all learning theorists subscribe to the behaviorist maxim that the proper dependent variables