Unit 3.9 Social, Cognition, and Neurological Factors in learning

Social Learning Theory

Suggests that people can learn new behaviors and information by watching and observing others, instead of having to do the action themselves

Observational Learning

When individuals watch the actions of others and see the outcomes of those actions

Vicarious Conditioning

Can happen through reinforcement or punishment

Vicarious Reinforcement

When an individual sees a model, receive a reward, which ends up motivating the observing to try the same behavior, since the individual expects the same reward

Vicarious Punishment

When a model gets punished, resulting in the person observing to avoid performing the action the model was doing

Insight learning

When there is a sudden solution or realization that pops into an individuals mind

Latent Learning

When an individual learns new information or skills but does not realize it at the time

Cognitive map

a mental picture of an environment, they are often created without an individual being directly aware of it

Neuroplasticity

Allows an individual to learn as they practice and review information or skills

Long-term potentiation

Is when two neurons fir together frequently, resulting in the connection between them becoming stronger

Long-Term Depression

If certain connections are not often used, the connections between neurons can become weakened

Hippocampus

Crucial for forming new memories, but does not stored their

Amygdala

When there is an emotional component involved, such as being afraid of a stimuli, or getting excited for a reward

Prefrontal cortex

Involved with planning, decision making, and complex reasoning