Preferences are assumed to play a crucial role in many phenomena that are studied in learning psychology, social psychology, consumer science, emotion research, and clinical psychology. Given the pervasive impact that preferences have on behaviour, it is important to know where these likes and dislikes come from. Although some preferences are genetically determined, most stem from learning that took place during the lifetime of the individual. In this special issue, the editors focus on one such type of learning: associative learning of likes and dislikes, that is, changes in liking that are due to the pairing of stimuli. Prior studies on evaluative conditioning have shown that pairing an affectively neutral stimulus with an affectively positive or negative stimulus will change the liking of the originally neutral stimulus. The papers that are part of this special issue explore the relevance of evaluative conditioning for social psychology, provide new data about the impact of contingency awareness, attention, and extinction trials on evaluative conditioning, and examine whether pairing stimuli can also result in the transfer of non-evaluative stimulus properties.

Adult learning matters. There is now widespread agreement that modern countries depend on the creativity, skills and knowledge of the entire population for their prosperity. Many people talk of our future well-being in terms of a 'knowledge economy' or a 'learning society' in which every person's ability to develop new capabilities will provide them with resources that will help them and the wider community to adapt and thrive. While in theory this makes lifelong learning into an exciting prospect, in practice this broad agenda is often reduced to a narrowly economic conception. This book reports on one of the largest research projects into lifelong learning conducted in recent years. Through over 500 in-depth interviews with a cohort of about 120 adults who were followed for three years, the Learning Lives project has built up a detailed understanding of what learning means and does in the lives of adults. The project has generated insights in how learning has changed over time and across generations, what the connections are with the changing world of work, what differences learning makes for life chances, how we can learn from life and for life, and how people's prospects of learning can be improved. Combining life history and life-course research with analysis of longitudinal survey data, this book provides important insights into the learning biographies and trajectories of adults. The book shows that learning means and does much more in people's lives than is often acknowledged by current education policy and politics. In doing so, it is an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in the role and potential of learning through the lifecourse.

Adult learning matters. There is now widespread agreement that modern countries depend on the creativity, skills and knowledge of the entire population for their prosperity. Many people talk of our future well-being in terms of a 'knowledge economy' or a 'learning society' in which every person's ability to develop new capabilities will provide them with resources that will help them and the wider community to adapt and thrive. While in theory this makes lifelong learning into an exciting prospect, in practice this broad agenda is often reduced to a narrowly economic conception. This book reports on one of the largest research projects into lifelong learning conducted in recent years. Through over 500 in-depth interviews with a cohort of about 120 adults who were followed for three years, the Learning Lives project has built up a detailed understanding of what learning means and does in the lives of adults. The project has generated insights in how learning has changed over time and across generations, what the connections are with the changing world of work, what differences learning makes for life chances, how we can learn from life and for life, and how people's prospects of learning can be improved. Combining life history and life-course research with analysis of longitudinal survey data, this book provides important insights into the learning biographies and trajectories of adults. The book shows that learning means and does much more in people's lives than is often acknowledged by current education policy and politics. In doing so, it is an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in the role and potential of learning through the lifecourse.

Emotions are complex and multifaceted phenomena. Although they have been examined from a variety of perspectives, the study of the interaction between cognition and emotion has always occupied a unique position within emotion research. Many philosophers and psychologists have been fascinated by the relationship between thinking and feeling.

During the past 30 years, research on the relationship between cognition and emotion has boomed and so many studies on this topic have been published that it is difficult to keep track of the evidence. This book fulfils the need for a review of the existing evidence on particular aspects of the interplay between cognition and emotion.

The book assembles a collection of state-of-the-art reviews of the most important topics in cognition and emotion research: emotion theories, feeling and thinking, the perception of emotion, the expression of emotion, emotion regulation, emotion and memory, and emotion and attention. By bringing these reviews together, this book presents a unique overview of the knowledge that has been generated in the past decades about the many and complex ways in which cognition and emotion interact. As such, it provides a useful tool for both students and researchers alike, in the fields of social, clinical and cognitive psychology.

The present special issue presents an overview of recent developments and controversies in research on human contingency learning. Contributions range from purely fundamental, theoretical analyses, over empirically oriented reports, to more applied contributions, reflecting the breadth of scope of contemporary research on human contingency learning. Taken together, these papers attest to the richness and diversity of current research on human contingency learning and identify key issues to be addressed in future research.

The present special issue presents an overview of recent developments and controversies in research on human contingency learning. Contributions range from purely fundamental, theoretical analyses, over empirically oriented reports, to more applied contributions, reflecting the breadth of scope of contemporary research on human contingency learning. Taken together, these papers attest to the richness and diversity of current research on human contingency learning and identify key issues to be addressed in future research.

Contents:
J. De Houwer, D. Hermans, Editorial. R.H. Fazio, On the Automatic Activation of Associated Evaluations: An Overview. D. Hermans, J. De Houwer, P. Eelen, A Time Course Analysis of the Affective Priming Effect. J. Musch, K.C. Klauer, Locational Uncertainty Moderates Affective Congruency Effects in The Evaluative Decision Task. J. De Houwer, G. Crombez, F. Baeyens, D. Hermans, On the Generality of the Affective Simon Effect. J.E. Swanson, L. A. Rudman, A.G. Greenwald, Using the Implicit Association Test to Investigate Attitude-behavior Consistency for Stigmatized Behavior. K. Rothermund, D. Wentura, P.M. Bak, Automatic Attention to Stimuli Signalling Chances and Dangers: Moderating Effects to Positive and Negative Goal and Action Contexts. M.G. Calvo, M.W. Eysenck, Early Vigilance and Late Avoidance of Threat Processing: Repressive Coping vs. Low/High Anxiety.

Emotions are complex and multifaceted phenomena. Although they have been examined from a variety of perspectives, the study of the interaction between cognition and emotion has always occupied a unique position within emotion research. Many philosophers and psychologists have been fascinated by the relationship between thinking and feeling. During the past 30 years, research on the relationship between cognition and emotion has boomed and so many studies on this topic have been published that it is difficult to keep track of the evidence. This book fulfils the need for a review of the existing evidence on particular aspects of the interplay between cognition and emotion. The book assembles a collection of state-of-the-art reviews of the most important topics in cognition and emotion research: emotion theories, feeling and thinking, the perception of emotion, the expression of emotion, emotion regulation, emotion and memory, and emotion and attention. By bringing these reviews together, this book presents a unique overview of the knowledge that has been generated in the past decades about the many and complex ways in which cognition and emotion interact. As such, it provides a useful tool for both students and researchers alike, in the fields of social, clinical and cognitive psychology.

Preferences are assumed to play a crucial role in many phenomena that are studied in learning psychology, social psychology, consumer science, emotion research, and clinical psychology. Given the pervasive impact that preferences have on behaviour, it is important to know where these likes and dislikes come from. Although some preferences are genetically determined, most stem from learning that took place during the lifetime of the individual. In this special issue, the editors focus on one such type of learning: associative learning of likes and dislikes, that is, changes in liking that are due to the pairing of stimuli. Prior studies on evaluative conditioning have shown that pairing an affectively neutral stimulus with an affectively positive or negative stimulus will change the liking of the originally neutral stimulus. The papers that are part of this special issue explore the relevance of evaluative conditioning for social psychology, provide new data about the impact of contingency awareness, attention, and extinction trials on evaluative conditioning, and examine whether pairing stimuli can also result in the transfer of non-evaluative stimulus properties.

An introduction to the psychology of learning that summarizes and integrates findings from both functional psychology and cognitive psychology.learning.Learning unites all living creatures, from simple microbes to complex human beings. But what is learning? And how does it work? For over a century, psychologists have considered such questions. Behavior analysts examined the ways in which the environment shapes behavior, whereas cognitive scientists have sought to understand the mental processes that enable us to learn. This book offers an introduction to the psychology of learning that draws on the key findings and major insights from both functional (behavior analysis) and cognitive approaches. After an introductory overview, the book reviews research showing how seemingly simple regularities in the environment lead to powerful changes in behavior, from habituation and classical conditioning to operant conditioning effects. It introduces the concept of complex learning and considers the idea that for verbal human beings even seemingly simple types of learning might qualify as instances of complex learning. Finally, it offers many examples of how psychological research on learning is being used to promote human well-being and alleviate such societal problems as climate change. Throughout the book, boxed text extends the discussion of selected topics and "think it through" questions help readers gain deeper understanding of what they have read. The book can be used as an introductory textbook on the psychology of learning for both undergraduate and postgraduate students or as a reference for researchers who study behavior and thinking.