Classical conditioning is a fundamental way of learning where a stimulus that naturally triggers a biological response is paired with a new stimulus. Over time, this new stimulus alone can produce the same response. The most famous experiments in classical conditioning were conducted by Ivan Pavlov in the 1890s. Through his research on the digestive […]
Author: Umut KARAGÖZ
Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that outlines five levels of human needs, which drive our behaviors. Proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, this theory was based on his study of exemplary individuals like Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt. According to Maslow, we are motivated to fulfill our needs in a specific order, […]
Social Learning: Beyond Direct Experience
Can we only learn through direct experience, or can we also learn from observing others? Psychologist Albert Bandura explored this question through his pioneering work, resulting in the social learning theory in the 1960s. This was a period dominated by scholars who believed learning was solely the result of classical and operant conditioning. Bandura’s experiments, […]
Psychosexual Development
Freud’s theory of psychosexual development claims that as we grow up, we pass through five critical phases. Our sex drive, which Freud called the Libido, focuses on a different erogenous zone at each phase. The phases are called Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital. If our experience during any of these phases was traumatic, we […]
Understanding Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is a method of learning that employs rewards and punishments to modify behavior. This concept, initially explored by Edward L. Thorndike and later popularized by B.F. Skinner, is based on the principle that behaviors can be increased or decreased based on the consequences they produce. To comprehend operant conditioning, it’s essential to recognize […]
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget, a renowned Swiss psychologist, proposed a theory of cognitive development that outlines four stages which individuals must pass through to develop full human intelligence. These stages are: Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years) Preoperational Stage (2-7 years) Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) Formal Operational Stage (12+ years) Each stage is characterized by different […]
The Pygmalion Effect Explained
The Pygmalion Effect is a phenomenon where higher expectations lead to an increase in performance. This can be illustrated through a cycle: OUR EXPECTATIONS about another person’s abilities influence OUR ACTIONS toward that person. Our actions then affect the other person’s self-image. This self-image impacts the other person’s actions toward us, which in turn confirms […]
Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development identifies eight stages through which a healthy individual should pass from birth to death. Each phase presents different needs, new questions, and interactions with people who influence our behavior and learning. 1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy: 1-2 years) In infancy, we ask ourselves if the world is a […]
Understanding Surplus Value: A Brief Introduction
Surplus value refers to the value created by workers’ labor that exceeds the cost of their labor power and is appropriated by capitalists. Although many thinkers have discussed the concept, it gained prominence through Karl Marx’s philosophy. Historical Context of Surplus Value Throughout history, societal progress has been driven by increases in labor productivity. When […]
Anarchism: Understanding the Ideology
Anarchism is a political philosophy that advocates for a society without hierarchical authority, emphasizing the abolition of the state and the organization of society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid. Anarchists seek to create a self-managed, stateless society where individuals freely associate and govern themselves without coercive institutions. This ideology is rooted in the […]