subordinates. The four learning styles are as
follows:
1. Concrete experience
People who primarily use the concrete learning
style prefer an experience-based approach to
learning. These people want to learn first hand
without preparing beforehand. They do not want
to learn by reading; they want to learn through
experience.
Concrete learners have the following charac-
teristics:
— Rely heavily on feeling-based judgments
— Are receptive to new experiences and
activities
— Are people-oriented
— Prefer to treat each situation as a new case
— Learn best when they can get involved
2. Reflective Observation
People who primarily use the reflective
learning style prefer to sit back and observe
without getting involved. They like to see how the
situation looks before making a judgment or
committing themselves to learning.
Reflective learners have the following traits:
— Rely heavily on careful observations when
making judgments
— Are more tentative or uncertain when
it comes to learning
— Like to reflect on what they have observed
before drawing conclusions
— Tend to be withdrawn
— Prefer to be objective observers
3. Abstract conceptualization
People who primarily use the abstract learning
style prefer a theory-based, analytical approach
to learning. These people prefer to study the
topic and think about it. They don’t want to
learn through experience; they’d rather read
about it.
Abstract learners have the following habits:
— Rely heavily on logical thinking and
rational evaluation
— Are more oriented to things and
symbols than they are to people
— Prefer authority-directed, impersonal
learning situations that emphasize theory
— Are frustrated
ing approaches
simulations
— Like systematic
by “discovery” learn-
such as role plays and
approaches or theories
4. Active experimentation
People who primarily use the active learning
style prefer to learn by becoming involved in
a subject. They take a step-by-step, active
approach. These people like to apply what they
are learning.
Active learners have the following qualities:
— Rely heavily on experimentation
— Like to combine theory with application
— Tend to be practical and responsible
— Use feedback from others
— Use trial and error and learn from their
own mistakes
Motives, Thoughts, and
Behaviors
A motive is a need or want based on your
personal desires or goals. A motive also leads you
to think about how you would feel about reaching
or not reaching the goal.
A thought leads to behavior that allows you
to reach the goal.
A behavior leads to goals that satisfy your
needs and wants in the initial motive.
We have three types of social motives: achieve-
ment, affiliation, and power. These motives lead
to behaviors related to persons and tasks met in
daily living.
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