social theory

What is the behaviorist view of the child?

A blank slate whose observable behavior is shaped by experience; the lecture critiques this as too environmentally focused.

Who is associated with classical conditioning?

John Watson (and Pavlov as a foundational example).

Who is associated with operant conditioning?

B. F. Skinner.

Who is associated with observational learning?

Albert Bandura.

What are the three learning mechanisms?

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning.

What is classical conditioning?

Learning an association between stimuli that occur before a response.

What is an unconditioned stimulus (US)?

A stimulus that naturally elicits a response without learning.

What is an unconditioned response (UR)?

An unlearned response naturally elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A previously neutral stimulus that elicits a learned response after pairing.

What is a conditioned response (CR)?

A learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Little Albert: loud clang is what?

Unconditioned stimulus (US).

Little Albert: fear of clang is what?

Unconditioned response (UR).

Little Albert: white rat after pairing is what?

Conditioned stimulus (CS).

Little Albert: fear of white rat alone is what?

Conditioned response (CR).

Child fears blue scrubs after painful shots: blue scrubs are what?

Conditioned stimulus (CS).

What is operant conditioning?

Behavior changes because of its consequences.

What does reinforcement always do?

Increases/strengthens a behavior.

What does punishment always do?

Decreases/weakens a behavior.

What does positive mean in operant conditioning?

Adding a stimulus or consequence; not necessarily pleasant.

What does negative mean in operant conditioning?

Removing a stimulus or consequence; not necessarily unpleasant.

Define positive reinforcement.

Add something after behavior to increase that behavior.

Define negative reinforcement.

Remove something unpleasant after behavior to increase that behavior.

Define positive punishment.

Add something after behavior to decrease that behavior.

Define negative punishment.

Remove something desirable after behavior to decrease that behavior.

Teacher praises hand raising; hand raising increases.

Positive reinforcement.

Parent stops nagging when chores begin; chores increase.

Negative reinforcement.

Parent scolds grabbing; grabbing decreases.

Positive punishment.

Parent takes car keys after curfew violation; lateness decreases.

Negative punishment.

Child receives candy for whining; whining increases.

Positive reinforcement of whining.

Child is released from time-out after appropriate behavior; appropriate behavior increases.

Negative reinforcement, as categorized in the course check for understanding.

What is observational learning?

Learning by watching a model or the consequences of the model's behavior.

What did the Bobo doll study demonstrate?

Children can learn aggression through modeling without needing direct reinforcement.

Is direct reinforcement necessary for observational learning?

No.

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Seeing another person rewarded changes the observer's likelihood of performing the behavior.

One strength of behaviorism?

Observable behavior is testable; applications to parenting, classroom management and therapy.

One limitation of behaviorism?

Underemphasizes biological traits and children's active contributions.

What is Bronfenbrenner's central idea?

Development occurs within nested, interconnected environmental systems.

Define microsystem.

People and settings with which the child interacts directly.

Define mesosystem.

Connections between two or more of the child's microsystems.

Define exosystem.

Settings the child does not directly participate in but that indirectly affect them.

Define macrosystem.

Broad cultural beliefs, laws, societal values and structures.

Define chronosystem.

Historical events, life transitions and developmental change over time.

Peers bully child at recess: system?

Microsystem.

Parent speaks to soccer coach: system?

Mesosystem.

Parent's work schedule changes child's care: system?

Exosystem.

Cultural expectation that boys excel at sports: system?

Macrosystem.

Hurricane forces family relocation: system?

Chronosystem.

Can microsystem influences be positive and negative?

Yes; any level can promote or disrupt development.

Main critique of bioecological theory?

Too broad/contextual; insufficiently specific about biological mechanisms and developmental processes.