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.
Albert Bandura bridged the gap between behaviorism and cognitivism with . He argued that humans do not need to experience a consequence directly to learn; we can learn by observing others . Psy 103 Learning Process
Central to this is , which likens the human brain to a computer. For learning to occur, information must move through three stages: Sensory Memory: Brief intake of surroundings. Working (Short-term) Memory: Where active thinking happens. He argued that humans do not need to
Pioneered by Ivan Pavlov, this process involves learning through association . By repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus (like a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (like food), the neutral stimulus eventually triggers a conditioned response. In human terms, this explains how we develop emotional triggers, phobias, or even "gut feelings" about certain environments. Working (Short-term) Memory: Where active thinking happens
Through "modeling," individuals watch the actions of others and the resulting consequences. This involves four key steps: (noticing the behavior), retention (remembering it), reproduction (performing it), and motivation (having a reason to do it). This theory explains how culture, language, and social norms are passed down through generations. 4. Factors Influencing the Process