Learning and Behavior

By James E. Mazur

Book Overview

This book reviews how people and animals learn and how their behaviors are changed as a result of learning. It describes the most important principles, theories, controversies, and experiments that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0205246443
• ISBN13: 9780205246441
• Release Date: July 2012
• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

no mention of mirror neurons

The 6th edition was published in 2006. Mostly unchanged from earlier editions, as far as I can tell. The book is characterised as an explanation of decades of experimental work in learning. From the seminal efforts by Pavlov, which are basically known to much of the public as "Pavlovian" responses, to more specialised, but still crucial experiments by others. If you're planning graduate work in this subject, here's a very useful synopsis. Granted, it's not a trivial read, and perhaps at the undergraduate level, should be restricted to 3rd or 4th years. Plus, if you have never read actual journal papers, the text is an easier introduction. It possesses much of the flavour of such papers; but typically simpler to understand, and the quality of writing may well be higher, given the refinements in each edition. One slight puzzle is the lack of mention of mirror neurons. Discovered over 10 years and several editions of this book ago. For the first time, there is hard biological evidence for the mapping of empathy onto actual physical structures. A landmark result that is being intensively investigated. The book does have some mention of neurons, but very general.

excellent

I have taught from this book in New Zealand and America. If your students are used to being spoon fed they may rebel at its complexity -- but if they are given proper guidance it will be useful first introduction and enduringly useful text for them. If you are graduating students with degrees in psychology and they cannot comprehend this book -- then their degree is not worth the paper it is printed on.

A must for anyone serious about behavior.

This book is not for the faint of heart but is indispensable for anyone seriously into the field of behavior. In the animal training field it is one of the five top books that I and many other trainers recommend. Marked four stars only because it is not for the casual reader.