Introduction
How do we learn? What makes a person's personality their personality? Why do we behave the way that we do?
There are many psychological theories that try to answer these questions. Today, we will learn about three of these theories: cognitive psychology, behaviorism, and social cognitive theory.
Task
You will read the articles and watch the videos provided about the three theories. While reading/watching, be sure to take notes on any important information. Then, you will complete a "triple Venn diagram" to compare and contrast the theories. This Venn diagram will be provided and completed on your computer.
Process
Read/Watch the following:
Cognitive Psychology:
Piaget's Cognitive Theory- Video
Cognitive Psychology Facts- Kiddle
Behaviorism:
Social Cognitive Theory:
Social Cognitive Theory- Video
Social Cognitive Theory Facts- Kiddle
Then, fill out the Venn diagram. Each theory should have its own circle. In the middle, write down things that all three theories share. Between two circles, write down similarities that two of the theories share, but not the third one. Include at least one item in each section.
Evaluation
| Criteria | Below Expectations (1) | Meets Expectations (3) | Exceeds Expectations (5) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venn Diagram | Some circles and/or sub-circles are left empty. The items present may or may not be factual. | The Venn diagram includes at least one item in each circle and sub-circle. Most items are factual and/or relevant. | The Venn diagram includes at least one item in each circle and sub-circle. All items are factual and relevant. | |
| Knowledge Gained | The student shows no understanding of one or more of the theories. Struggles to understand and/or demonstrate similarities and differences between the three theories. | The student understands and demonstrates accurate knowledge of the three theories. Struggles to understand and/or demonstrate similarities and differences between the theories. | The student understands and demonstrates accurate knowledge of the three theories, their similarities, and their differences. | |
| Use of Resources | The Venn diagram does not contain information from any of the resources included in the WebQuest. | The Venn diagram contains information from at least one resource included in the WebQuest. | The Venn diagram includes information from multiple resources included in the WebQuest. | |
| Total: |
Conclusion
You should now be able to summarize the main ideas of cognitive psychology, behaviorism, and social cognitive theory.
How has learning about these theories changed the way that you think about learning? When you see a toddler throwing a tantrum, or a baby imitating their parent's speech, will you think about any of the theories that you have learned about today?
Questions for further thought:
1. Given what you know about these psychological theories, how do you think that these theories were influenced by each other?
2. You notice that your friend has started to wear sparkly jeans to school, just like the jeans that the cool girls wear. How would each psychological theory explain your friend's new fashion choice?