Learning by Insight & Observation

Learned Helplessness

A psychological state where a person gives up trying to change a negative situation because they believe they have no control, even when opportunities to escape or improve things exist

Martin Seligman

Psychologist who researched learned helplessness using experiments with dogs exposed to uncontrollable shocks

Social Learning Theory

Theory that learning occurs through observing

Modeling

Learning by observing and imitating the behaviors of others

Albert Bandura

Psychologist who developed Social Learning Theory and conducted the Bobo Doll experiment

Bobo Doll Experiment

Study showing that children imitate aggressive behaviors they observe in adult models

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning by observing the consequences of others’ actions without directly experiencing them

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action performed by others

Desensitization

Reduced emotional or neural response after repeated exposure to a stimulus such as violence

Insight Learning

Sudden understanding of a problem that leads to a solution without trial and error

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement and is demonstrated only when there is motivation or need

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of spatial relationships that help individuals navigate their environment