Historical Perspective of Cognitive Learning Theory

Historical Perspective of Cognitive Learning Theory

Historical perspective of cognitive learning theory is very interesting. First of all, it is important to understand what cognitive learning theory is all about. This theory is about understanding how the human mind works while people learn.


According to cognitive learning theory, an active student learn when he made the effort to organize, store and found a relationship between the old and new information, scripts and schemes. In simple words, cognitive learning theory is about how information is processed by the mind.

Previously when behaviourism was at the forefront, many psychologists do not approve of the theory. They believe that behaviorism is too much emphasis on single events, stimulation and excessive behavior. This opinion is most of the Gestalt psychologists. These psychologists believe that any perception or image should be studied as a whole rather than in the parts of the whole. This idea gradually began to have a profound impact on what psychologists think about learning. While behavioral psychologists look to one's environment, the Gestalt psychologists began to focus on one's cognition or learning process.

Researchers such as Jean Piaget made an important contribution to the theory of cognitive learning. Piaget recognized that the environment plays a role, but he focused on the changes that occur in the internal cognitive structure. In fact, Piaget role in identifying the four stages of mental growth, the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational.

Jerome Bruner, another researcher, focused on how mental processes can be linked to teaching and he stressed that learning occurs through discovery. Robert M Gagne was instrumental in identifying the forms of learning 8.

Today, cognitive learning theory is the dominant force in psychology.