Personality Theory Final

Behavioral Theories

All behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment. Rather than focusing on internal thoughts or feelings, it studies observable, measurable accounts.

Ivan Pavlov

Behaviorists

Classical conditioning (pavlov)

Learning occurs through association. Demonstrated that a naturally occurring, automatic biological responses (salivation) can be triggered by a previously neutral environmental stimuli (bell) if the two are repeatedly paired together. Food →bell—> salivation.

Unconditioned stimulus

The natural trigger (food, drill of dentist)

Unconditioned response

The automatic, unlearned reaction (salivation, pain/fear)

Neutral stimulus

Initial neutral stimulus (bell/tone, the dentist)

B.F. Skinner

Behavioralist. “Free will doesn’t exist”

Operant conditioning (Skinner)

Learning and behavior are shaped by environmental consequences NOT internal mental states.

Reinforcement (Skinner)

We learn/do things because consequences are desirable (we want to do it again)

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase desired behavior (treat when you clean or get good grades)

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase desired behavior (no chores if good grade)

Punishment (Skinner)

We unlearn/stop doing something because consequences are not desirable

Positive Punishment

Adding unpleasant stimulus to decrease undesirable behavior (extra chore if no homework. hitting)

Negative Punishment

Removing pleasant stimulus to decrease undesirable behavior (no dessert/phone if no veggies)

Shaping (Skinner)

Process of reinforcing every behavior that is closer to the desired behavior. e.g. training dogs, walking, teaching music, learning to read. Raise the bar as you go.

Personality (Skinner)

A collection of behavior patterns developed through rewards/punishments

Explanatory fiction (Skinner)

People use concepts when they can’t explain or understand behavior. e.g. freedom, creativity.

The self (Skinner)

Not essential in behaviorism

Psychotherapy (Skinner)

Is pragmatic and curative. Behavior modification seeks to eliminate undesired behavior by changing the environment within which they occur. (smoking, drinking —> not walking through store).

Token economy (Skinner)

Individuals earn physical or digital tokens for displaying positive behaviors, which they can exchange later for rewards. e.g. in schools.

Bandura

Social cognitive theory. Roots in behaviorism but adds reasoning and motivation.

Social learning (Bandura)

Learning that occurs as a result of social interaction. Learning is viewed in terms of products and processes. Observational learning, modeling, and imitation.

Reciprocal causation (Bandura)

Individuals have as much effect of their environment as their environment has on them. Human behavior, personal factors (thoughts, feelings, emotions) and the environment all continuously interact and influence one another.

(Bandura) Reinforcement and punishment can be…

indirect through learning and behavior. e.g. we see a person get punished so we change our behavior.

Observational learning effect (Bandura)

Observer acquires new behavior after watching someone else do it

Response facilitation effect (Bandura)

Observer displays previously learned behavior more frequently after watching someone else do it and get rewarded/praised. e.g. someone playing piano “want to do it again”

Response inhibition effect (Bandura)

Observer displays learned behavior less frequently after watching someone else do it and get punished. (stop drinking after seeing what it does to someone)

Self-Efficacy (Bandura)

Belief that one is capable of executing certain behaviors or reaching certain goals. It affects interests, curiosity, effort, and motivation.

High self-efficacy (Bandura)

Person is more likely to put forth effort and take on challenging tasks.

Self-Regulation (Bandura)

Process of taking control of and evaluating one’s own learning and behavior. e.g. positive self-talk.

Self-regulated behavior is… (Bandura)

Self chosen behavior that leads to the fulfillment of personally chosen standards and goals.

Albert Ellis

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

ABC Theory (Ellis)

External events (A) do not directly cause our emotional or behavioral consequences (C). Rather, it is our beliefs (B) about the events that drive how we feel/react.

Therapy session (Ellis)

Action oriented, CBT approach focused on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs. Finding a dispute to out irrational beliefs: I must do this to why must I do this.

Aaron Beck

Cognitive Behavior therapy (2)

Cognitive Schemas (Beck)

Structures that consist of an individual’s fundamental core beliefs and assumptions about how the world operates.

Automatic thoughts (Beck)

Involuntary and unintentional thoughts that are hard to regulate

Cognitive distortions (Beck)

Systemic errors in reasoning:

Selective abstraction

Minimization

Personalization

Arbitrary inference

Magnification

Overgeneralization

All-or-nothing

Catastrophizing

Cognitive psychotherapy (Beck)

Challenges dysfunctional beliefs, promotes more realistic thinking. Uses cognitive and behavioral methods, is present-centered, directive, active, and problem-oriented.

Carl Rogers

Humanistic approach

Phenomenology (Rogers)

Posits that reality is fundamentally subjective, shaped by each individuals unique perception of the world. Study of human awareness and perceptions.

Phenomenal field (Rogers)

Total sum of experiences an organism has. All experiences of the individual whether conscious or unconscious.

Self-concept (Rogers)

As people interact with their phenomenal field, they differentiate the “self.” This is the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about who they are.

Congruence (Rogers)

State of alignment where one person’s idealized self matches their actual experiences and self-concept. “giving money back”

Incongruence (Rogers)

When there is a significant gap or conflict between who you want to be and who you realistically perceive yourself to be. “easy-going” (there is denial or distortions occurring)

Need for positive regard (Rogers)

Universal human motivation to feel loved, respected, and valued by others

Unconditional positive regard (Rogers)

Complete, non-judgemental acceptance and support of an individual

Positive self-regard (Rogers)

Finding value in oneself. Our own internal self-esteem and self-worth

The fully functioning person (Rogers)

Openness to experience, existential living, organic trust, experiential freedom, creativity.

Openness to experience (Rogers)

Aware of all experiences without a need to deny or distort them

Existential living (Rogers)

Able to live in the moment without dwelling in the past or obsessing over future

Organic Trust (Rogers)

Trust in one’s own experience; not bound by other people’s opinions

Experiential freedom (Rogers)

Full responsibility for our actions and make decisions without self-doubt or need to please others

Creativity (Rogers)

Embrace change, creatively solve problems, and easily adapt to new situations

Person-centered therapy (Rogers)

Referred to as client-centered or non-directive therapy. It is supportive rather than reconstructive

Conditions for therapeutic change (Rogers)

Necessary attitudes of therapist (empathy, acceptance, and genuineness). Therapist responds to emotional communications.

Maslow

Trans-personal psychology

Transpersonal Psychology

Concerned with the states in which people experience a greater sense of who they are as well as connectedness with others. Emphasizes health and human potential, seeking a balance of the whole person: intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, and creative

Hierarchy of needs (Maslow)

Self-actualization, esteem, love/belonging, safety, physiological

Self-actualized individuals (Maslow)

Fulfill their own needs and do the best that they are capable of doing

Peak experience (Maslow)

An intensification of any experience to the degree that there is a loss of time or transcendence of the self. flow

Martin Seligman

Positive psychology

Positive Psychology (Seligman)

Grew out of humanistic psychology.

The meaningful life: using services and resources in something greater than yourself

The pleasant life: pursuing positive emotions and sensory pleasure

The good life: achieving “flow” by engaging in activities that align with out unique talents

PERMA

Positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment

Western psychotherapy

Emphasizes change for disturbed individuals

Eastern disciplines

Concerned with change in the consciousness of normal or healthy people

Zen

Known as the Buddha (awakened one). A school of buddhism that claims to represent the Purest essence of Buddhist teachings.

Anicca

Impermanence. Foundational truth that absolutely everything in the physical and mental world is constantly changing, unstable, and in a state of flux. nothing lasts forever

Dukkha

Suffering, dissatisfaction, and distress that results from attachment and aversion

Four noble truths

Provides a solution to suffering:

Suffering is universal

Arises from our craving

To end suffering, we must cease self-defeating liking and disliking

The way to end suffering is the Eightfold Path.

Anatta

Non-self. We are not fixed objects. No permanent, unchanging essence, soul, or independent "you".

Bodhudharma (chinese)

Adopted expressions from Taoism.

Tao (china)

Absolute or way of future. stressed the desirability of harmonizing with nature.

Yin and yang

Feminine, receptive, internal, negative aspect of nature vs. Masculine, active, external, positive aspect of nature.

The practice of zen in china

Training of the mind that creates a state that allows realization of enlightment (satori). Harmonizing the mind with posture is accomplished through awareness of breathing. Koan (dialogues that bypass logical reasons - exhaust rational mind) sound of one hand clapping.

Hinduism

Caters to the needs of all people. Accepts all religions and paths. Believes all creations and creatures are forms of God.

Goal of life (Hinduism)

To know who we are, where we have come from, to become one with our source, to realize our full potential, Moksha (self-realization, liberation, or bliss) eternal peace

Dharma (hinduism)

Moral or ethical duty. Levels - Individual, family, societal, national, Dharma of man kind, Dharma of cosmos (controlled by God)

Karma (hinduism)

Law of cause and effect. Every action has a reaction. Every act has an effect in this or future lives. Good actions = good effects. Bad actions = bad effects

Free will (hinduism)

Out of all species only we have free will to discover our source. If we are conscious, we have free will