BEHAVIORAL THEORIES

Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Social-Cognitive Theory

BEHAVIORAL THEORIES Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning

… Neutral stimulus paired with active stimulus to produce response.

Watson’s Conditioning of ‘little Albert’… Involuntary responses are learned.

Skinner’s Operant Conditioning… Consequences, rewards and punishment,

shape behavior.

Theories of Development

SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORIES

Bandura

… Emphasizes observational learning.… Focus on reciprocal interactions

among behavior, cognition, and environment (any one can influence the others).

… Cognitive thought needed to imitate others.

Theories of Development

BANDURA’S SOCIAL COGNITIVE MODEL

Theories of Development

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYModel: Conscious and Rational

Very compatible theory with the American culture.

No such thing as an unconscious. Not going to tell you something about

yourself that you don’t already know. Does not challenge our beliefs as

psychodynamic does. Common sense approach. Added the symbolic environment as opposed

to just rewards and punishments.

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYReciprocal Determinism (causation)Triangular Model:

Person Internal personal factors such as

cognitions, affective reactions, and biological processes.

Behavior Overt behavior.

Environment Actual Environment.

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYObservational Learning:AttentionSymbolic RepresentationTransformation into ActionMotivational Incentive

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYSelf-Efficacy: Persons belief in their ability to produce desired

results from their own actions.

Ways to develop Efficacy: Mastery Experiences Social Modeling Social Persuasion Physical and Emotional States and ability to

read them

This is not self-esteem.

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYImportant: Very Simple Expectancies

Person---Behavior---Consequence The expectancy occurs between each step. The first is self-efficacy: that you can

perform a specific behavior in a specific situation.

The second is the outcome expectancy-you will receive what you are suppose to receive (reinforcement value).

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORYWhen negative behaviors do happen?

Mechanisms of Disengagement: Moral JustificationEuphemistic LabelingMinimizing the consequencesDehumanizing the victimBlaming the victimSomeone else’s responsibilityDiffusion of responsibility

EVALUATING THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORIES

Contributions include:… Scientific research… Person and cognitive factors… Environmental determinants… Observational learning

Criticisms include:… Lack of focus on cognition… Too little attention to developmental changes… Overemphasis on environmental determinants

Theories of Development

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Creator: Ivan Pavlov

OPERANT CONDITIONING Creator: B.F. Skinner

LEARNED FEAR Creator: John Watson