The Psychology Of Learning: 8 Curious And Surprising Findings

Do people learn from their mistakes? Do ‘smart’ drugs really work? How can learning speed be doubled? Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing — or just the reverse?

Learning something new and intriguing is one of the finest intellectual experiences in life.

Psychology, of course, provides us with endless jolts of this type of pleasure as we try to satisfy our intense curiosity about ourselves and each other.

The psychology of learning is no less of a mystery, making us wonder things like:

• Do people really learn more from their mistakes? (the answer is people do NOT learn from their mistakes, but the interesting bit is why.)
• Can smart drugs really help people learn?
• Are some people too old to learn like teenagers again?

Find out the answers to these question and more in these 8 psychology studies from the members-only section of PsyBlog.

(If you are not already, find out how to become a PsyBlog member here.)

1. The Most Effective Learning Technique Is The Oldest
2. Surprises Are Key To Enhanced Learning
3. The Ironic Effect Of ‘Smart Drugs’ On Productivity
4. Brainwaves Reveal When Students Are Learning From Their Teacher
5. This Type Of Learning Makes Old Brains Young Again
6. How To Learn Information At Double Speed
7. The Type Of Breaks That Boost Skill Learning
8. One Simple Tip To Enhance Learning Motivation

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Author: Jeremy Dean

Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD is the founder and author of PsyBlog. He holds a doctorate in psychology from University College London and two other advanced degrees in psychology. He has been writing about scientific research on PsyBlog since 2004. He is also the author of the book "Making Habits, Breaking Habits" (Da Capo, 2013) and several ebooks. View all posts by Jeremy Dean