About this item
Highlights
- An introduction to the psychology of learning that summarizes and integrates findings from both functional psychology and cognitive psychology.learning.Learning unites all living creatures, from simple microbes to complex human beings.
- About the Author: Jan De Houwer is a Professor in the Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology at Ghent University.
- 320 Pages
- Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience & Cognitive Neuropsychology
Description
About the Book
"This book provides a unique overview of psychological research on learning. It starts with an in-depth discussion on the definition and nature of learning, the distinction between different types of learning, and the main psychological approaches to studying learning. Each subsequent chapter reviews the scientific literature on a specific type of learning (e.g., classical conditioning, operant conditioning), highlighting what is known about the conditions under which learning occurs, as well as the cognitive processes that are assumed to mediate learning. The final chapter focuses on the power and potential of applied learning psychology in helping us to deal with important societal problems such as psychological suffering and climate change. The book is unique in that it summarizes and integrates knowledge from both functional psychology (e.g., behavior analysis) and cognitive psychology in a systematic manner. It does so by adopting a functional-cognitive framework that recognizes the fundamental differences between both approaches while also highlighting the way in which they are mutually supportive. It is also the first book to integrate the (functional) literature on Relational Frame Theory within a review of psychological learning research. The book can be used as an introductory textbook on the psychology of learning for undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. For researchers who study behavior and thinking, it reveals the power of the functional-cognitive framework for psychological research, both in terms of its ability to organize the existing literature on learning, as well as its value for generating new ideas for research on learning"--Book Synopsis
An introduction to the psychology of learning that summarizes and integrates findings from both functional psychology and cognitive psychology.learning.Learning unites all living creatures, from simple microbes to complex human beings. But what is learning? And how does it work? For over a century, psychologists have considered such questions. Behavior analysts examined the ways in which the environment shapes behavior, whereas cognitive scientists have sought to understand the mental processes that enable us to learn. This book offers an introduction to the psychology of learning that draws on the key findings and major insights from both functional (behavior analysis) and cognitive approaches.
After an introductory overview, the book reviews research showing how seemingly simple regularities in the environment lead to powerful changes in behavior, from habituation and classical conditioning to operant conditioning effects. It introduces the concept of complex learning and considers the idea that for verbal human beings even seemingly simple types of learning might qualify as instances of complex learning. Finally, it offers many examples of how psychological research on learning is being used to promote human well-being and alleviate such societal problems as climate change.
Throughout the book, boxed text extends the discussion of selected topics and "think it through" questions help readers gain deeper understanding of what they have read. The book can be used as an introductory textbook on the psychology of learning for both undergraduate and postgraduate students or as a reference for researchers who study behavior and thinking.
About the Author
Jan De Houwer is a Professor in the Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology at Ghent University. Sean Hughes is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology at Ghent University.