Chapter 2 Flashcards
people learn things w/o reinforcement, every individual learns many things through observation & imitation of other people
social learning theory
when people copy what they see others do
modeling
behavior is followed by something desired, such as food for a hungry animal or a welcoming smile from a lonely person
reinforcement
particular action is followed by something desired or by something unwanted
operant conditioning
learning process in which a meaningful stimulus is connected w/ a neutral stimulus that has no special meaning before conditioning
classical conditioning
process by which responses link to particular stimuli
conditioning
studies observable behavior, describes the laws & processed by which behavior is learned
behaviorism
holds irrational, unconscious drives & motives, often originating in childhood, underlie human behavior
psychoanalytic theory
average or usual event or experience
norm
systematic statement of general principals that provides a framework for understanding how & why people change as they grow older
developmental theory
focuses on changes in how people think over time, our thoughts shape our attitudes, beliefs, & behaviors
cognitive theory
state of mental balance which people are not confused because they can use their existing thought processes to understand current experiences & ideas
cognitive equilibrium
reinterpretation of new experiences to fit into the old ideas
assimilation
restructuring of old ideas to include new experiences
accommodation
holds that development results from the dynamic interaction of each person w/ the surrounding social & cultural forces
sociocultural theory