Learning theories

learning theories overview
Theories about human learning can be grouped into four broad "perspectives". These are
Behaviorism - focus on observable behavior
Cognitive - learning as purely a mental/ neurological process
Humanistic - emotions and affect play a role in learning
Social - humans learn best in group activities
The development of these theories over many decades is a fascinating story. Some theories developed as a negative reaction to earlier ones. Others built upon foundational theories, looking at specific contexts for learning, or taking them to a more sophisticated level.
There is also information here about general theories of learning, memory, and instructional methodology.
Read brief descriptions of these four general perspectives here:
Learning Theories: Four Perspectives
Within each "perspective" listed below, there may be more than one cluster of theories. Click on the name of the theorist to go to the page with biographical information and a description of the key elements of his/her theory.
1. Behaviorist Perspective
Classical Conditioning: Stimulus/Response
Ivan Pavlov 1849-1936 Classical Conditioning Theory
Behaviorism: Stimulus, Response, Reinforcement
John B. Watson 1878-1958 Behaviorism
Edward L. Thorndike 1874-1949 Connectivism
Edwin Guthrie 1886-1959 Contiguity Theory
B. F. Skinner 1904-1990 Operant Conditioning
William Kaye Estes 1919 - Stimulus Sampling Theory
Neo-behaviorism: Stimulus-Response; Intervening Internal Variables; Purposive Behavior
Edward C. Tolman 1886-1959 Sign Theory & Latent Learning
Clark Hull 1884-1952 Drive Reduction Theory
Keneth W. Spence 1907-1967 Discrimination Learning
2. Cognitive Perspective: Learning as a Mental Process
Gestalt Learning Theory: Perception, Decision making, Attention, Memory, & Problem Solving
Max Wertheimer 1880 -1943 Gestalt Learning Theory
Kurt Lewin 1890 - 1947 Field Theoretical Approach
Wolfgang Kohler 1887 - 1967 Insight Learning
Kurt Koffka 1887 - 1941 Gestalt Theory
Leon Festinger 1919 - 1989 Cognitive Dissonance
Information Processing and Computer Models
D.O. Hebb 1904 - 1985 Neurophysiologic Theory
George A Miller 1920 - Information Processing Theory
Allen Newell 1927 - 1992 General Problem Solver
Craik & Lockhart Levels of Processing
Allan Paivio 1941 - Dual Coding Theory
David E. Rumelhart 1942 - Interactive Activation with Competition
Constructivism: Knowledge is Constructed; the Learner is an Active Creator
David Ausubel 1918 - 2008 Subsumption Theory
Jerome Bruner 1915 - Constructivism
Jean Piaget 1896 - 1990 Genetic Epistemology
Jean Lave Situated Cognition
Chris Argyris 1923 - Double Loop Learning
Rand J. Spiro Cognitive Flexibility
David Kolb Learning Styles
John Flavell Metacognition
Roger Schank Script Theory
Psychoanalytic: The role of the Unconscious Mind in Learning
Sigmund Freud 1856-1939 Psychoanalytic Theory of Learning
3. Humanistic Perspective: Emotions and Affect Play a Role in Learning
Abraham Maslow 1908-1970 Humanistic Theory of Learning
Carl Rogers 1902-1987 Experiential Learning
Jack Mezirow Transformational Learning
4. Social Learning Perspective: Learning as a group process
Lev Vygotsky 1896 - 1935 Social Constructivism
Albert Bandura 1925 - Observational Learning
John Seely Brown Cognitive Apprenticeship
5. General Theories of Memory & Intelligence
J. R. Anderson ACT*
J.P. Guilford Structure of Intellect
Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligences
Robert Sternberg Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
6. Instructional Theories
John Bransford Anchored Instrution
Lee Joseph Cronbach 1916 - 2001 Aptitude Treatment Interaction
K.P. Cross CAL- Characteristics of Adult Learners
Robert Gagne 1916-2002 Conditions of Learning
Malcolm Knowles Andragogy
Lev Landa Algo-Heuristic
Mager Criterion-Referenced-Instruction
Merrill Component Display Theory
Reigeluth Elaboration Theory