Social cognitive theory—Bandura: human functioning is a ...



Chapter 13

Behaviorism: concerned with overt, observable behavior. Not concerned with emotions, thoughts, expectancies, values, insight, unconscious.

B. F. Skinner---rejected the use of inner states, such as anxiety, as explanations of behavior in favor of observable external events.

Radical behaviorism An extreme form of the behaviorist view that argues against using inner states as explanations for behaviors.

Freud and Skinner held similar view----people do not know reason for many of their behaviors—although think we do.

Personality described: the end result of one's history of conditioning. To understand processes that shape personality and to change problem behaviors—have to examine basic conditioning principles. The behavioral approach to personality proposes that personality is the consistent patterns of behavior we engage in.

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are used by behaviorists to explain the development and maintenance of behaviors.

Classical conditioning: event-event learning. Learn that there is a temporal or sequential relationship between 2 events in world, such as bell and food powder.

Operant conditioning: behavior-event learning. Learn the relationship between behavior and some consequential event. Press a lever produces piece of food.

Edward Thorndike: Law of effect—an action that results in a favorable effect more likely to be repeated--- an action that results in an unfavorable effect less likely to be repeated.

Operant conditioning—consequences of action important. Consequence increases frequency of behavior that precedes it is called reinforcement. Decreases behavior—called punishment. Consequence reinforcing or punishing varies according to situation and person.

Negative reinforcement

Punishment

behavior modification Therapy procedures based on operant conditioning and classical conditioning principles

Social Learning theory: introduced idea of behavior-environment-behavior interactions. Incorporates internal concepts into descriptions of conditioning and personality. Environment influences behavior, behavior influences environment. How you act partly a result of how you are treated; the way others treat you partly result of how you act.

People provide own reinforcers in absence of visible external rewards—reach goals set for yourself.

Rotter: social learning theory cognitive expectancies: (1) what you expect to happen following a specific behavior, and (2) the value you attach to the outcome (reinforcement value); both influence whether you will engage in the specific behavior

To predict human behavior—behavior potential, expectancy, reinforcement value, and psychological situation.

A basic idea of Rotter's social learning theory is that the strength of expectancy is determined by the value placed on reinforcement

The probability of engaging in a behavior changes after rewards and punishments because our expectancies change.

Behavior potential-refers to likelihood that given behavior will occur in particular situation. Each possible response has different behavior potential.

Strength of behavior potential determined by expectancy and reinforcement.

Expectancy—person’s expectation of being reinforced. Expect to get something of value for behavior—likely to do it.

Figure out probability that will have a good time—base expectancies on how things turned out in past situations. More rewards in past, more confidence in rewards at present time.

Reinforcement value—preference for a particular reinforcement.

Needs of person contributes to reinforcement value. Goals with highest reinforcement value most desirable. stable individual differences

Locus of Control

Research on locus of control developed out of Rotter's concept of generalized expectancies. Locus of control---personality trait that divides people along a continuum according to the extent to which they believe what happens to them and others is controllable.

Social cognitive theory—Albert Bandura: human functioning is a product of the mutual interaction of environmental events, behavior, and personal factors.

Bandura proposes that internal states, the environment, and behavior all affect one another. people regulate own behavior, and we engage in purposeful, future-oriented thinking.

Personality is determined by the interplay of behavior, environment, and cognitive processes---called reciprocal determinism.

Reciprocal determinism— three way interaction of environment, behavior and person.

Behavior partially function of environment, but environment partially function of behavior

Bandura adds 3rd factor—the person—cognitive factors such as memory, anticipation, planning and judging. Because people have and use cognitive capacities—able to influence both their environment and own behavior.

Cognition determines which environmental events people attend to, what values placed on events

3 reciprocal factors don’t have to be of equal strength or to make equal contributions. Strength of factor varies with individual and with situation.

Behavior may be most powerful—person plays piano for own enjoyment.

Environment exerting most influence—boat overturns every survivor begins thinking and behaving in same ways

Cognition (person) more powerful—person believes there are sinister plans being plotted to destroy her.

Relative influence of behavior, environment and person depends on which of the 3 factors is strongest at particular moment.

Observational learning is a key aspect in how we learn--form ideas about others’ behavior and possibly adopt that behavior.

Bandura: learn through observing others, although whether behaviors are performed depends on expectancies for rewards or punishments.

Instead of passive recipients of the environment, we can actively regulate and control our behaviors.

Behavior modification therapists apply basic conditioning principles when dealing with their clients.

systematic desensitization is based on classical conditioning.

token economies, are based on operant conditioning.

Bandura has identified clients' self-efficacy beliefs as crucial in the psychotherapy progress. Whether clients expect to succeed is an important determinant of therapy success. These expectancies come from a variety of sources, including past performance accomplishments and vicarious learning.

Self efficacy: people’s beliefs that they are capable of performing those behaviors that can produce desired outcomes in a particular situation.

How people act depends on reciprocity of environmental and cognitive conditions, especially those that relate to beliefs----Influences actions choose to pursue, how much effort invested in activity, how long work at activity, and resiliency if not successful

Beliefs in capabilities to exercise some measure of control over own functioning and over environmental events.

High self-efficacy—believe they can do something that has potential to alter environmental events. Low self-efficacy---see themselves as incapable of carrying out activities.

Confidence in ability to perform certain behaviors.

Efficacy does not imply that people can perform behaviors without anxiety, stress –instead judgement about whether or not they can carry out the required action.

Self-efficacy can be enhanced or reduced by: mastery experiences past performances/ successful performances raises self-efficacy in proportion to difficulty of task.; social modeling or vicarious experiences—provided by other people.

Physical and emotional states

High self-efficacy in one situation, low in another, situational variables—competence required for different activities, whether other people are present and their perceived competence, accompanying physiological states

High and low efficacy combined with responsiveness of environment—predict behavior.

Behavioral assessment includes a variety of techniques, including direct observation, self-monitoring, and observation by others. Each of these techniques can provide useful data for determining baseline frequencies, the conditions under which the target behavior occurs, and the success of the treatment procedure.

Among the strengths of the behavioral/social learning approach is its empirical base and the useful therapeutic procedures it has generated. The observation of behavior has fostered a scientific climate for studying personality.

The criticisms include the inappropriate attention given to heredity. People have also criticized the way behavior therapists interpret problems into observable behaviors.

Both perspectives have been more concerned with situations, rather than the enduring characteristics of the person.

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