Types of Learning to Know for AP Psychology

Learning comes in various forms, each shaping how we understand and interact with the world. From classical and operant conditioning to observational and cognitive learning, these concepts reveal how experiences influence behavior and emotional responses in everyday life.

1. Classical Conditioning

   • Involves learning through association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus.
   • Key figures: Ivan Pavlov, known for his experiments with dogs and salivation.
   • Concepts include unconditioned stimulus (US), conditioned stimulus (CS), unconditioned response (UR), and conditioned response (CR).
   • Important for understanding how emotional responses can be conditioned (e.g., fear).
   • Applications include therapy techniques like systematic desensitization.

2. Operant Conditioning

   • Learning occurs through consequences, such as rewards and punishments.
   • Key figures: B.F. Skinner, who used reinforcement schedules to shape behavior.
   • Concepts include reinforcement (positive and negative) and punishment (positive and negative).
   • Important for behavior modification and understanding how behaviors can be increased or decreased.
   • Applications include education, animal training, and behavior therapy.

3. Observational Learning

   • Learning by watching and imitating others, also known as social learning.
   • Key figure: Albert Bandura, famous for the Bobo doll experiment.
   • Concepts include modeling, attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
   • Highlights the role of social context and environment in learning.
   • Important for understanding the influence of media and role models on behavior.

4. Latent Learning

   • Learning that occurs without immediate reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior.
   • Key figure: Edward Tolman, who demonstrated this with rats in mazes.
   • Concepts include cognitive maps and the idea that learning can occur without direct rewards.
   • Important for understanding the role of cognition in learning processes.
   • Applications include insights into motivation and the importance of experience.

5. Insight Learning

   • A sudden realization of a problem's solution without trial-and-error behavior.
   • Key figure: Wolfgang Köhler, who studied problem-solving in chimpanzees.
   • Concepts include the "aha" moment and cognitive restructuring.
   • Highlights the role of cognitive processes in learning and problem-solving.
   • Important for understanding creativity and complex problem-solving.

6. Habituation

   • A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.
   • Important for understanding how organisms adapt to their environment.
   • Differentiates between habituation (a decrease in response) and sensory adaptation (a change in sensory receptors).
   • Applications include understanding attention and focus in learning environments.
   • Relevant in studies of animal behavior and human psychology.

7. Sensitization

   • An increased response to a stimulus following a strong or noxious stimulus.
   • Important for understanding heightened awareness and reactions to stimuli.
   • Differentiates from habituation, where responses decrease over time.
   • Applications include understanding trauma responses and anxiety disorders.
   • Relevant in studies of neurobiology and behavioral psychology.

8. Cognitive Learning

   • Involves understanding, knowing, and thinking as part of the learning process.
   • Emphasizes the role of mental processes in acquiring knowledge.
   • Concepts include information processing, memory, and problem-solving.
   • Important for understanding how learners actively construct knowledge.
   • Applications include educational strategies and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

9. Social Learning

   • Learning that occurs within a social context, emphasizing the influence of others.
   • Involves concepts like social norms, peer influence, and group dynamics.
   • Important for understanding how culture and society shape behavior.
   • Applications include understanding group behavior, conformity, and socialization.
   • Relevant in studies of developmental psychology and sociology.

10. Associative Learning

    • A broad category that includes both classical and operant conditioning.
    • Involves forming connections between stimuli and responses.
    • Important for understanding how behaviors are learned and modified.
    • Applications include behavior therapy and educational practices.
    • Relevant in studies of animal behavior and human learning processes.