There are three major theoretical schools of learning: behaviorism, cognitive psychology, and humanistic psychology. Behaviorism emphasizes conditioning behavior through reinforcement and punishment. Cognitive psychology focuses on how people process information and structure knowledge. Humanistic psychology stresses meeting students' basic needs and allowing free learning. Together these theories recognize the importance of environmental stimuli and reinforcement in the learning process, while acknowledging individual differences that can be addressed through customized stimulus. Elements of all three theories have influenced the American education system with varying levels of success.

1. Three Major Theoretical Schools of Learning
Behaviorism: emphasizes
the conditioning of behavior
and the altering of the
environment in order to
create a desirable response
from a learner.
Cognitive Psychology:
emphasizes the nature
of learning and how
individuals structure
knowledge, create
reasoning and
problem-solving
strategies
Humanistic
Psychology:
emphasizes the total
person and their
immediate experiences
that affect the
structure of learning
for students.

2. Behaviorism
Thorndike
• Behavior is
influenced by
conditions of
learning and
learning
experiences can
be improved
with designed
and controlled
lessons that
provide select
stimuli with
integrated,
consistent, and
mutually
reinforcing
responses.
Ivan Pavlov
and John
Watson:
Whenever a
response is
closely
followed by a
positive or
negative stimuli
it will create a
reaction on
subsequent
occasions.
B. Frederick Skinner:
Reinforcing
behaviors will create
behaviors both
positive and negative
for learning
Albert Bandura:
Behavior is best
learned through
observing and
modeling .
Robert Gagne:
learning is
hierarchical
based on
various
stimulus: signal
learning, verbal
association,
concepts, rules,
problem-
solving and
multiple
discriminations.
All produce
desired learning
outcomes

3. Cognitive Psychology
Maria
Montessori:
children learned
at different
levels and the
school
environment
should provide
the proper
stimulus to
encourage the
learning.
Activities should
include
structured play
and visual and
auditory
activities.
Jean Piaget:
Cognitive
development
occurs in stages
based on
environmental
stimulus. To
encourage
learning ability a
system needs to
be developed
that encourages,
modifies, and
processes new
experiences for
students.
Lev Vygotsky:
language and
culture play a
major part in the
intellectual
development of
learners.
Howard
Gardner: there
are at least 8
different forms
of intelligence
that allows
students to
create a learning
style that best
permits mastery
of information.
Verbal/Linguistic,
Logical/Mathem
atic,
Visual/Spatial,
Kinesthetic,
Musical,
Interpersonal,
Intrapersonal,
Naturalistic

4. Humanistic Psychology
Abraham Maslow: Human
needs are the basis of behavior
and psychological well-being;
there are 6 human needs are
related to behavior: survival
needs, safety needs, love and
belonging needs, esteem needs,
knowing and understanding
needs, self-actualization needs.
Will affect the acquiring
knowledge within students.
Carl Rogers: Concept of free
learning that encourages
students to be open, self-
trusting, and self-accepting
within the education
experience. The importance is
placed on the process of
learning, the personal needs of
learners, the psychological
meaning of the lessons, and
environment of learning.

5. Putting It Together
Three
Theoretical
Schools of
Learning
All three rely on
reinforcement of
behaviors or
environments.
Learning
environments are
stimulus to
successful
education.
The majority agree
that differences such
as class, gender, and
race can be overcome
through various
stimulus and
reinforcements.
All three have been
incorporated in the
American education
system and have varied
success rates.