Which of the following best describes how cognitive psychologists define learning?

• A. Learning is a relatively permanent change in mental representations or knowledge due to experience.
• B. Learning is a temporary change in behavior caused by external reinforcement.
• C. Learning is a biological adaptation that occurs without conscious awareness.
• D. Learning is the automatic formation of stimulus-response associations.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and knowledge representation, rather than just observable behavior.
2. Step 2: Recognize that learning, from a cognitive perspective, involves changes in mental representations or knowledge structures within the mind.
3. Step 3: Note that learning is considered relatively permanent, meaning it is not just a temporary change but a lasting modification in how information is processed or stored.
4. Step 4: Differentiate this from other definitions that emphasize behavior change (behaviorism) or biological adaptations, which are not the primary focus of cognitive psychology.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description of learning in cognitive psychology is a relatively permanent change in mental representations or knowledge due to experience.