behavioral approach

Behavioral Approaches of Personality

  • Key Contributors:
      - Dollard, Miller, and Skinner.

Personality from a Behavioral Perspective

  • Definition: Personality can be understood as "all the tendencies you've learned over all the experiences of your life."

Conditioning as a Type of Learning

  • Types of Conditioning:
      - Classical Conditioning:
        - Definition: Associating one stimulus with another (also known as Pavlovian conditioning).
      - Instrumental Conditioning (Operant Conditioning):
        - Definition: Active learning defined by triggering behavior.

Classical Conditioning

  • Basic Elements of Classical Conditioning:
      - A stimulus leads to a response, such that the response is reflexive.
      - Must become associated in time with another stimulus.

  • Stages of Classical Conditioning:
      1. Before Conditioning:
         - Unconditioned Stimulus (US) leads to Unconditioned Response (UR).
      2. Conditioning:
         - Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is paired repeatedly with US; the UR appears because of the US reflex.
      3. After Several Repetitions:
         - The CS leads to Conditioned Response (CR) which is similar to the UR.
      4. After Conditioning:
         - The CS/CR pair acts as any other reflex.

  • Illustration of Classical Conditioning Stages:
      - Figure 10.1 Explanation:
        - Panels illustrate the stages left to right:
          - (A): Pre-existing reflexive connection (US → UR).
          - (B): Neutral stimulus (CS) paired with US.
          - (C): Development of a new response (CR).
          - (D): CS alone now leads to CR.

  • Practical Example:
      - Scenario: Dining at an Italian restaurant with Sicilian folk music.
      - Meeting someone (US) induces high sexual arousal (UR).
      - The associated candlelight and music (CS) may condition a sexual response (CR) where these features become significant.

Discrimination, Generalization, and Extinction of Conditioning

  • Generalization:
      - Responding similarly to similar stimuli where CR appears after a stimulus that is not the original CS (e.g., similar restaurants).

  • Discrimination:
      - Responding differently to different stimuli.

  • Extinction:
      - If CS appears repeatedly without US, CR weakens.
      - Possible spontaneous recovery, where CS/CR can reemerge.

Importance of Learning Conditioning

  • Helps explain attitude formation and strong reactions through emotional conditioning.

  • Basis for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.

Instrumental/Operant Conditioning

  • Definition: If a behavior is followed by a better (more satisfying) outcome, it’s more likely to occur again; if followed by a worse outcome, it’s less likely to be repeated.

  • The quality of behavior can be affected (speed, effort, creativity).

Assessment of Emotional Responses

  • Physiological Assessment:
      - Measuring changes in bodily reactions (e.g., sweating due to fear).

  • Behavioral Assessment:
      - Measuring activities caused by emotions (e.g., avoidance due to fear).

Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning

  • Reinforcer:
      - Definition: Diminishes a need,
      - Can be categorized as:
        1. Primary Reinforcer: Biological.
        2. Secondary Reinforcer: Associated with a primary reinforcer.
        

  • Types of Reinforcement:
      1. Positive Reinforcement: Receiving something good.
      2. Negative Reinforcement: Removing something bad.

Punishment in Operant Conditioning

  • Punisher: Unpleasant outcome.
      - Can be categorized as:
        1. Primary Punisher: Intrinsically aversive (e.g., pain).
        2. Secondary Punisher: Associated with primary by conditioning.

  • Types of Punishment:
      1. Positive Punishment: Eliciting something bad.
      2. Negative Punishment: Removing something good (e.g., time out).

Discrimination, Generalization, and Extinction in Operant Conditioning

  • Discriminative Stimulus (DS):
      - A stimulus that is always followed by a reinforcer; responses under this stimulus are considered to be "under stimulus control."

  • Generalization:
      - Ability to respond similarly in new situations due to contextual similarities.

  • Extinction:
      - Occurs when a behavior no longer leads to a reinforcer.

Reinforcement Scheduling

  • Continuous Reinforcement:
      - Reinforcer is given every time a new behavior occurs; results in faster acquisition but quicker extinction.

  • Partial Reinforcement:
      - Reinforcer is given sometimes; results in slower acquisition but slower extinction (known as the partial reinforcement effect!).

Conditioning in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Use in Treating Phobias:
      1. Systematic Desensitization: Controlled exposure to phobic stimuli.
      2. Counterconditioning: Relaxation in presence of phobic stimuli.
      3. Exposure Treatments: For PTSD treatment.

Operant Conditioning and Maladaptive Behavior

  • Continuous reinforcement can lead to undesirable behavior that becomes extinction resistant (e.g., tantrums, gambling, addiction).

  • Contingency Management:
      - Changing the patterns of reinforcers, providing functional alternatives, and reducing reinforcements tied to unfunctional behaviors.

Conclusion

  • Final Note: Thank you for your attention!