Learning in Psychology

One idea of consistent interest to psychologists is how learning comes about. Many psychologists have studied learning in psychology and have developed a variety of theories about how the human brain absorbs and records information in order to bring about long-term, permanent learning.

> Learning Theory

Many different theories exist about how learning comes about, and a variety of psychologists have made their mark on these different schools of thought. Behaviorism is one such theory, pioneered by Watson and Skinner in the early twentieth century. Much of their research was performed on animals. Behaviorism focuses specifically on observable behavior and does not take into account emotions or internal reaction, as these elements are subjective and not directly observable by the researcher.

Another theory is constructivism, which holds that humans construct a variety of models based on their experiences. These models can shift and change to accommodate changes in individual perception. Constructivism takes a much less objective approach to the ideas of learning.

> Neuroscience and Learning

Direct study of the function of the brain and the nerve cells also contribute to the study of learning in psychology. Different parts of the brain "light up" with electronic activity based on the actions an individual is taking. Many scientists have used these models of electrical activity to determine where in the brain short-term memory and long-term memory reside, and to theorize on how short-term memory becomes long-term memory, thus bringing about permanent learning.

Experiments with neuroscience and learning have been performed on animals as well as on humans, as have other experiments dealing with other types of learning theory. These experiments can determine how animals' brains are both similar to and different from human brains, and shed additional light on the overall function of the brain, the memory and how we all learn.

Learning theory is a fascinating subject with many approaches and theories to study, as well as many new areas yet to be explained. Anyone wishing to study psychology would find much to learn and pursue in this particular field of psychology.