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learning theory

a body of concepts and principles that seek to explain the learning process. Learning theory actually encompasses a number of specific theories whose common interest is the description of the basic laws of learning, usually derived from studies of classical and instrumental conditioning and verbal learning. These include Hull’s mathematico-deductive theory of learning, the purposive behaviorism of Edward C. Tolman, the Rescorla–Wagner theory, and the comparator hypothesis, among others.

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Psychology term of the day

December 22nd 2024

regret theory

regret theory

a model of decision making that states that people’s fear of, and previous experience with, regretting poor choices plays a large role in motivating or deterring their behavior in situations involving uncertainty. For example, a person who regrets buying, on the advice of a good friend, a used car that subsequently requires expensive repairs likely will disregard the friend’s advice in the future in order to avoid the potential for similar regret. Within this framework, regret is considered to have two distinct components—the wish that one had chosen differently and the self-recrimination involved in believing one made an error in judgment. Associated with behavioral economics, regret theory is a parallel to prospect theory. See also anticipatory regret. [originally proposed in 1982 by British economists Graham C. Loomes (1950–  ) and Robert Sugden (1949–  )]