Which perspective states that learning results in enduring changes in how individuals mentally represent their environment?

The cognitive perspective emphasizes that learning involves enduring changes in an individual's mental representations of their environment. This view focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve information, which fundamentally alters their understanding and interaction with the world around them. It highlights the importance of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, demonstrating that learning is not just about observable behaviors but also about internal cognitive changes.

In contrast, other perspectives such as competency-based learning prioritize specific skills or competencies rather than the underlying cognitive changes. The behaviorist perspective centers on observable behavior and external stimuli, often neglecting the mental processes involved in learning. The law of readiness pertains to the conditions under which learning occurs, rather than the cognitive transformations that take place as a result of learning itself. Thus, the cognitive perspective accurately encapsulates the notion that learning leads to lasting shifts in mental representations.