COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORY

Cognitive Learning Theory

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Thesis Statement3

Cognitive Learning Theory3

Four Major Approaches/Principles of Cognitive Processes4

Experimental cognitive psychology4

Cognitive Neuropsychology5

Cognitive Science5

Cognitive Neuroscience5

Contributions of three theorists to develop the theory6

Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980)6

Albert Bandura6

Walter Mischel6

Information Processing of a Human Mind7

Explaining the theory for mental processes associated learning8

Influence of the theory - Permanent change in behavior8

Strengths of Cognitive Psychology10

Weaknesses of the Cognitive Psychology10

Comparison of Behaviorist and Cognitive Theory11

Contrast skinner's theory of behaviorism11

Bandura's social cognitive theory11

Conclusion12

References13

Cognitive Learning Theory

Introduction

Learning takes place every day in our lives. According to psychology, learning happens when cognition, emotion and environment influence a person's brain and this thinking process. This concept has given rise to the learning theories. These learning theories explain how people learn, provide a framework and outline a process of a person's learning period. There are four types of learning theories, Associationistic, Cognitive, Neurophysiologic and Evolutionary. This paper will provide explanation about cognitive learning theory.

Thesis Statement

The aim of this research is to track the development of cognitive theory, contribution of various theorists and its variegated practical implications.

Cognitive Learning Theory

Cognitive learning theory came as an answer to the behaviorist theory of psychology. Cognitive theory of psychology studies how people think, remember, perceive and solve issues. Basically, it is the study of mental processes and it says that the human mind is an information processing centre. These thought processes also influence an individual's actions and his interaction with the people in the world. However the mind processes information and whatever it understands, the human being acts according to it.

Cognitive theory is divided into two specific theories; Social Cognitive Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Theory. According to the Social Cognitive Theory, 3 elements are the basis of learning. They are Behaviroal, Personal and Environmental. These three elements are interlinked and cause learning of a person. This model implies that if an individual wants to learn, he should have positive personal characteristics, good behavior and considerable support from the environment, environment includes a person's friends, family etc.

The second theory was presented by Aaron Beck. This theory implies that the behavior of a person is drived by the self-concepts he or she forms. These self-concepts can be positive as well as negative. This theory is explained by the Cognitive triad which includes negative thoughts about the self, the environment and the future (Stenberg, 2008).

Four Major Approaches/Principles of Cognitive Processes

Cognitive theory is based on intenral psychological processes therefore it is very difficult to observe these processes directly. These processes happen in a human's brain when he perceives things and then accordingly decides how to react. The thinking process of the human cannot be tracked because the process occurs so rapidly that only their behavior can depict what is going on in his mind. Despite these difficulties, the cognitive psychologists have managed to develop fpur manager approaches to this process which are discussed below (Eysenck, 2001).

Experimental cognitive psychology

Under this approach, experiments are carried out on individuals under laboratory conditions. One pitfall of this approach is that these experiments are scientific and are tightly ...