Principles And Position Of Theory
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Neutral stimulus paired with unconditional stimulus creates a learned connection between the neutral stimulus and the emotional response to the unconditional stimulus, thereby connecting the emotion to a new stimulus. Similar neutral stimuli can elicit the same emotional response through a process of generalization. The learned behaviors can be either positive or negative. When the stimuli are no longer paired, a process of extinction occurs because the connection between stimulus and emotion lessens.
Behaviors can be traced to historical reinforcements and not to personality development. Personality is a result of the reinforcements, rewards and punishments, experienced in childhood that determines our behaviors. Environmental events and consequences determine and control behaviors and personality. Our behaviors are learned by either gaining rewards or avoiding pain. Environmental consequences are the product of behavior responses and the rewarded responses will re-appear more likely. Reinforcement strengthens behavior performance.
The nature of habits, experimentation, and organized theory of learning are associations between stimulus and a response. Responses lead to a goal alleviating a drive. Attention is directed to the internal state during learning. Behaviors occur in response to drives. Drives are reduced when the goal is attained. When drives are reduced it reinforces learning. Reinforcement theory of learning because drive and goal are paired together.
Personal and Social Implications of Theory
Explanation of response patterns when pairing stimulus and automatic response.
Through enjoyable and negative associations, our personality forms.
Not all individuals will react equally.
Focuses on the behaviors not the causes.
Behaviors that are rewarded are maintained
Individuals are void of free will because all behaviors are determined by the environment and the rewards or punishments that are experienced.
Understanding behavior requires uncovering environmental conditions that surround the behavior.
All behaviors are learned through reinforcements.
Deprivation creates need; Need activates drive; Drive initiates behavior; Behavior achieves goal for survival value.
Important Terms and Concepts of Theory
Generalization-Similar stimuli creating conditioned response.
Discrimination-The learned difference between similar stimuli.
Extinction-The process by which conditioned and unconditioned stimuli association weakens and the response becomes less consistent.
Systemic Desensitization-The process by which the fear object is introduced while keeping the individual happy
Operant Conditioning-Behavior is determined and changed by the consequences.
Shaping-The process of gradually changing behaviors for a desired effect through reinforcement.
Reinforcement-The rewards that supports behavior and its repetition in the future.
Radical Determinist-The belief that all human behavior is caused and free choice do not exist.
Primary Drives-Basic stimuli; hunger, thirst, sex, pain avoidance.
Learning Theory-Learning is based on habit strength.
Secondary Drives- Adult personality constructs learned through reward reinforcement at a very young age.
Principles and Position of Theory
People learn from observing others perform not by performing the behavior and receiving reward or punishment. It is also known as modeling- meaning that a person forms themselves in the image of another. People decide consciously which behavior to imitate.
People plan and make choices before