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Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning because...
Models, Theories, and Laws01:16

Models, Theories, and Laws

Scientists frequently use models to help them comprehend a specific collection of phenomena. In physics, a model is a condensed version of a physical system that is too complex to study thoroughly. One such example is the light wave model; unlike water waves, light waves are typically invisible to us. Nonetheless, it is helpful to think of light as being composed of waves, since investigations show that light behaves like water waves. Since it is impossible to visually see what is genuinely...
Steps in the Modeling Process01:14

Steps in the Modeling Process

Albert Bandura's theory of observational learning identifies four critical processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement or motivation.
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Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory01:29

Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory

Attribution theory plays a crucial role in social psychology, helping to explain how individuals interpret the causes of behavior. One prominent model within this field is Harold Kelley's covariation theory, which provides a systematic approach to determining whether internal traits or external circumstances drive a person's actions. The model posits that individuals rely on three key types of information—consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness—to make these judgments.Consensus: Comparing...
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Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory

Correspondent inference theory, proposed by Jones and Davis in 1965, seeks to explain how individuals infer stable personality traits from observed behaviors. It suggests that people attribute actions to underlying dispositions rather than external circumstances, particularly when the behavior appears intentional and socially significant.Voluntary Behavior and Dispositional AttributionAccording to this theory, individuals are more likely to attribute behavior to personal traits when it appears...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
14:38

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

Reconstructing constructivism: causal models, Bayesian learning mechanisms, and the theory theory.

Alison Gopnik1, Henry M Wellman

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA. Gopnik@berkeley.edu

Psychological Bulletin
|May 16, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a computational framework for cognitive development, using probabilistic causal models and Bayesian learning to explain how children learn theories. Research shows children learn causal structures from data and actions from 16 months to 4 years old.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
14:38

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • The
  • theory theory
  • in developmental psychology posits children learn by forming and testing theories.
  • Existing models lack a computational framework for detailed, constructivist learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new computational framework for the
  • theory theory
  • using probabilistic causal models and Bayesian learning.
  • To explain how children learn specific causal hypotheses and abstract framework theories.

Main Methods:

  • Outlining new theoretical ideas and explaining the computational framework intuitively.
  • Reviewing empirical results from studies on learning mechanisms in children.
  • Examining causal statistical learning, play-based experimentation, imitation, and pedagogy.

Main Results:

  • Children infer causal structure from statistical information, their own actions, and observations of others.
  • Learning mechanisms demonstrated in children aged 16 months to 4 years.
  • Studies cover intuitive theory change in physical, psychological, and social domains.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed computational framework provides a rigorous, constructivist approach to cognitive development.
  • Empirical evidence supports the model, particularly regarding children's causal learning and theory change.
  • Further collaboration between developmental and computational cognitive scientists is suggested.