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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)