Classical conditioning is a type of associative learning that takes place unconsciously. It works by associating one stimulus with something else that already leads to a response. After an association is formed, the new stimulus will start to produce the same response. The process was first described by a Russian physiologist named Ivan Pavlov. He … Read more
Albert Bandura was an influential Canadian-American psychologist who was known for his social learning theory, Bobo doll experiment, observational learning, and self-efficacy. Throughout his long career, he left an indelible mark on the field of psychology and influenced other areas including education and psychotherapy. In this article, learn more about Albert Bandura including his early … Read more
Social learning theory, also known today as social cognitive theory, is a theory proposed by psychologist Albert Bandura that explains how people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling. This model of learning suggests that both environmental and cognitive factors play a critical role in the acquisition of knowledge. In this article, learn more about the … Read more
B. F. Skinner was born on March 20, 1904. He went on to become an influential psychologist who first described the learning process known as operant conditioning. Skinner played a pivotal role in behaviorism, a school of thought that suggested that all behavior was learned through conditioning processes. Skinner referred to himself as a radical … Read more
There are many famous (and sometimes infamous) psychological experiments that have helped shape our understanding of the human mind and behavior. Such experiments offered insights into how people respond to social pressure and how they develop associations that lead to fear. While many of these psychological experiments are well known even outside of the field … Read more
Explore our growing collection of psychology terms and definitions. A – B Abnormal Psychology Absolute Threshold Accommodation Actualizing Tendency Acquisition Attachment Theory Barnum Effect Behaviorism Bias Blind Spot Big 5 Personality Traits C – D Classical Conditioning Cognitive Bias Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive Psychology Compassion Conformity Contingency Theory of Leadership Developmental Psychology E – I Emotional … Read more
Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on understanding different aspects of human personality. The field of personality psychology seeks to understand what causes different personality traits. It also works to understand, diagnose, and treat problems with personality, which are known as personality disorders. What Is Personality? Personality is defined as the characteristic … Read more
Nonverbal communication plays a vital part in how we share things with others and understand what others are trying to say. Communication is essential for successful interpersonal relationships, but it isn’t just the words you say that speak volumes. Your nonverbal signals—including body language and facial expressions—are forms of nonverbal communication that can carry a … Read more
The Type A personality is often characterized as determined, driven, and hardworking. There are a number of different ways of thinking about and describing personality, and categorizing people as a Type A or Type B is one way to do this. While Type A and Type B are often thought of as polar opposites, people … Read more
Cognitive dissonance is discomfort or distress caused by conflicting beliefs, behaviors, feelings, ideas, or values. It is an uncomfortable psychological state that people experience when they have an inconsistency between how they think and how they act. This feeling of dissonance may be experienced as anxiety, stress, or discomfort. In order to relieve the discomfort … Read more