learning and motivation chap 1

• behavior: observable or measurable activity, internal or external (ex: heart rates, etc.)
• learning: relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from experience
• Watson
  • must study behavior instead of introspection and self-reported thoughts and feelings
  • behaviorism: focuses on the study of environmental influences on observable behavior
  • goal: predicting and controlling behavior
• methodological behaviorism
  • AKA stimulus-response theory
  • connection formed between specific stimulus and specific response
• hull
  • s-r connections: building blocks of behavior
  • neobehaviorism: infer the existence of internal events from connection between environment and behavior
  • largely operationalized physiological-type reactions (ex: hunger drive, tiredness, etc.)
• tolman
  • cognitive behaviorism: utilizes intervening variables to explain behavior
  • intervening variables: hypothesized cognitive processes (ex: expectation)
  • similar to Gestalt theory ➝ sum is greater than parts
  • cognitive maps: mental representation of one’s spatial surroundings
  • learning is different than performance
  • latent learning
• bandura
  • social learning theory - emphasizes importance of observational learning and cognitive variables explaining human behavior
  • reciprocal determinism: environmental events and observable behavior and thoughts / feelings mutually influence each other
• b.f. skinner
  • radical behaviorism: emphasizes influence of environment on observable behavior
  • countercontrol: when we understand how the environment affects us, we can change the environment to our benefit
  • genetics
  • operant conditioning resembles the evolutionary principle
    • adaptive behaviors increase in frequency
    • nonadaptive behaviors decrease in frequency
  • using behaviorism today
  • applied behavior analysis / behavior modification
    • treating / managing clinical disorders
    • doctors w/o borders - clinical psychologists
    • improving educational practices
    • treating children with developmental and intellectual disabilities (especially autism)

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