Comprehensive Social Learning, Behaviorism, and Classical Conditioning Theories

Social Learning Theory

the application of observational learning as a process by which children's behavior can change

Observational Learning

the process by which we learn (by observing the behaviors of others); also known as social learning

Who is the Father of Social Learning

Albert Bandura

Vicarious Reinforcement

when a child observes a model receiving positive reinforcement for a response

Vicarious Punishment

when a child observes negative reinforcement for a response

What are the 2 results of modeling?

Imitation and Response Inhibition

Imitation

occurs when children model what they have observed; it is the first result of modeling

Selective Imitation

imitations that are not precise reflection of what the child observes

Response Inhibition

frequent results of vicarious punishment; doing negative things and receiving negative consequences

What is the another name for response inhibition?

Counter Imitation

What are the 4 processes in Social Learning Theory?

Attentional Processes

Processes of Retention

Production Processes

Motivational Processes

Attentional Processes

although a child is exposed to many behaviors, only certain features of the observed behavior are modeled

Processes of Retention

children often model the behaviors of others NOT immediately after seeing them, but considerably later

Production Processes

the physical capability of a child to reproduce an observed behavior

Motivational Processes

observed behavior may NOT be modeled/activated if it is NOT reinforced

According to Bandura, how does learning occur?

occurs by observing the behaviors of others and the consequences of them, NOT by direct reinforcement

True or False: Bandura states that we learn which behaviors are desirable and rewarded and which behaviors are undesirable and punished.

True

What are the components of the Social Cognitive Analysis?

The Person

The Person's Behavior

The Person's Environment

The person

Includes the child's cognitive abilities (intellect), physical characteristics, personality traits, beliefs, and attitudes.

The person's behavior

Can affect their feelings about themselves and their attitudes and beliefs of others.

The person's environment

Children's knowledge about the world and of others results from info they receive from social media, television, the internet, parents, textbooks, and other environmental resources.

Consequences

The consequences of children's behavior (and individuals they observe) influence what they do.

Reciprocal determinism

The interaction of the person, the person's behavior and the person's environment is an interactional process.

bandura’s most famous study

the bobo doll study

Bobo Doll Study

Based on Bandura's theory that all human behavior is learned through social imitation and observation rather than inherited through genetic factors.

What behavioral models did Bandura use during the Bobo Doll Study?

Aggressive and Non-aggressive models

Describe the Bobo Doll

An inflatable 5 ft toy designed to swing back upright when knocked over.

Results of the Bobo Doll Study: Aggressive behavior

Children exposed to aggressive adult models were more likely to imitate those aggressive behaviors

True or False: In the Bobo doll study, boys were 3x more likely to replicate physical, violent behavior than girls.

True

Males exposed to ________________ models are _____ likely to use any physical object against the Bobo doll.

non-aggressive; less

Behaviorism

A theory that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors over internal mental states.

Introspection

Research method investigating the functions of the human mind by asking subjects to describe their mental experiences.

Was Watson dissatisfied with introspection and why?

Watson was dissatisfied because there is very little agreement across subjects' descriptions of their mental experiences.

What 2 things did Watson focus on in his earlier research studies?

1. the physiological processes and animal psychology

2. studied the physiological functions of the human body

Boys' behavior in Bobo Doll Study

Boys were nearly 3x more likely to replicate physical, violent behavior than girls.

Non-aggressive models

Subjects exposed to non-aggressive models showed little imitation of aggressive behaviors.

Passive/non-aggressive role models

Children exposed to passive/non-aggressive role models showed little interest in aggressive behavior.

Male subjects with female role models

Male subjects placed with non-aggressive female role models were more likely to use a mallet than those placed with male role models.

Watson was a key figure in propelling what to the forefront?

A key figure in propelling behaviorism to the forefront.

What major positions did Watson hold in 1908?

Watson became chairperson of the psychology department at JHU, president of APA, and editor of the Psychological Review.

Little Albert

An 11-month-old child in a case study aimed at conditioning a fear response.

What was the goal of the Little Albert case study?

The goal of the Little Albert study, where a fear response was conditioned in the child.

CR in Little Albert

Conditioned Response: Little Albert's fear.

CS in Little Albert

Conditioned Stimulus: White rat.

UCR in Little Albert

Unconditioned Response: Pain.

UCS in Little Albert

Unconditioned Stimulus: Sound of the hammer striking the bar.

Results of Little Albert Study

After several trials, Albert would cry and crawl away when the white rat was presented alone. Watson generalized the CS to other objects such as a white rabbit, white fur coat, and white beard of Santa Claus mask.

Was Watson able to decondition Little Albert?

No, Little Albert moved away before he could.

Conditioned Reflex Method

Changes in behavior result from conditioning processes rather than from innate biological processes. Learning occurs through a process of association.

Watson's Career in 1920

Watson was forced to resign from JHU for having an affair with his graduate student.

True or False: Watson wrote for the general public after what took place in 1920.

True, Watson wrote for the general public due to the results of what took place.

What is the name of Watson's book?

The Psychological Care of the Infant and Child

Excerpt on Treating Children

Parents favored this excerpt because they liked the idea that their kids could be successful with proper training and education.

Excerpt on Infants

Watson claimed he could train any healthy infant to become any type of specialist regardless of their innate abilities.

Most of the methods from experimental psychology comes from Watson's theory, and by using those methods, he was able to identify three things:

1. Precise specification of experimental procedures

2. The emphasis on observable and measurable behaviors

3. The use of objective and verifiable measures, rather than subjective measures

What kind of theorist was Harry Harlow?

Attachment development theorist

When does Harlow say attachment is clearly formed

Infant's attachment to the caregiver can first be clearly observed at 6-8 months of age

According to Harry Harlow, what are the 3 stages of attachment and their corresponding ages?

1. Indiscriminate social responsiveness- Birth to 2 months

2. Discriminate social responsiveness- 2 to 7 months

3. Focused attachment- 8 to 24 months

Which stage of attachment talks about second class status?

Indiscriminate social responsiveness- at this stage, strangers assume second class status

Which stage of attachment talks about cognitive representation and the internal working model?

Discriminate social responsiveness- child develops cognitive representation, AKA the internal working model

What stage of attachment talks about the 2 primary areas of development, and what are they?

Focused attachment- emotional attachment and physical development

Define emotional attachment.

Fear emerges as the dominant emotion. The child begins to recognize what is strange or unfamiliar and reacts negatively.

Define physical development, according to Harlow.

Occurs 6-8 months of age; when babies begin to crawl. Crawling gives the child their first opportunity to independence.

Which stage references the baby's sense of self?

Developed during the discriminate social responsiveness stage

Weariness of strangers

A general fear of unfamiliar people that appears in a child around 8 months of age; clearly highlights the attachment bond

Separation anxiety

Involves crying and seeking out the caregiver, indicating that being close to the caregiver reduces the infant's stress

Which one of the two primary attachment areas talks about crawling?

Physical development

Identify the 3 determinants of attachment.

1. responsiveness to the bay

2. attachment across generations

3. temperament

Responsiveness to the baby

Mothers who are more sensitive to their babies' needs are more likely to develop a secure attachment relationship

Attachment Across Generations

Mothers' childhood attachment relationships; assessed by Harlow using an instrument called "Adult Attachment Interview"

Temperament

Babies who are fearful and have difficult temperaments are likely to show greater distress when separated from their caregivers

Autonomous mothers

Present an objective and balanced picture of their childhood, noting both positive and negative experiences.

Dismissing mothers

Claimed to have difficulty recalling their childhood and appear to assign little significance to them.

Preoccupied mothers

Tend to dwell on their childhood experiences, often describing their experiences in a confused and highly emotional manner.

Rhesus Monkeys Case Study

Interested in determining the role that feeding plays in the attachment process.

Purpose of Rhesus Monkeys Case Study

To assess the role of food in the attachment process, as food is fundamental to sustaining life and babies are emotionally drawn to the caregiver due to their association with food.

In what environment were the rhesus monkeys studied in?

A controlled environment

What were the types of surrogate mothers in Harlow's attachment study?

One surrogate was wrapped in terrycloth to allow the monkeys to cling to it, while the other wasn't (made of wood and wire), to assess love for mothers.

How much time did the monkeys spend with the terrycloth surrogate?

17-18 hours per day

How much time did the monkeys spend with the wood and wire surrogate?

Less than 1 hour

To assess the infants' love for the mother, Harlow used 2 measures:

1. The amount of time spent with each surrogate mother. 2. The degree to which the mother provided security in fear-producing situations.

Results of the Rhesus Monkeys study

Development of attachment in rhesus monkeys isn't due to feeding, but the opportunity to cling and cuddle with the surrogate mothers.

What did Harry Harlow refer to as a phenomenon?

Contact comfort

Skinner's Instrumental Theory

Research focus on how an individual's behavior can be shaped by selective rewards and punishment received from the environment.

Child's learning process according to Skinner

A child is born unlearned and learns by reactions to stimuli and reinforcement.

Stimuli leading to behavior

Any stimuli or consequence that causes a behavior or a response to occur again or not to occur again are effective in modifying that behavior or response.

Positive reinforcers

Stimuli that increase the probability of a given behavior or response to occur again.

Negative reinforcers

Stimuli that decrease the probability of a given behavior to occur or not to occur again.

Punishers

Negative reinforcers.

Punishment

The removal of negative behavior.

Skinner Box Study

A study where the mouse pressing the bar is operant behavior, meaning the mouse is acting on the environment.

Mouse pressing the bar

The mouse is acting on the environment and receives positive reinforcement (the food pellet).

Behaviors and reinforcers

Skinner discovered that behaviors and reinforcers can be measured in discrete units, recorded, and controlled.

Continuous Reinforcement

Every time the mouse pressed the bar, he received the food pellet.

Intermittent Reinforcement

Reinforcers (pellet) are presented only after a certain interval of time has passed.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

A type of intermittent reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after a specific number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

A type of intermittent reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after a specific amount of time has passed.

Variable Ratio

A type of intermittent reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses.

Variable Interval

A type of intermittent reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Walden Two

The name of Skinner's book.