Chapters 14 & 15: Learning, Motivation, & The Self Flashcards
Learning
in behaviorism, a change in behavior as a result of experience
Behaviorism (or Behaviorist Approach)
the theoretical view of personality that focuses on overt behavior and the ways in which it can be affected by rewards and punishments in the environment
a modern variant is the social learning approach, which adds a concern with how behavior is affected by observation, self-evaluation, and social interaction
also called the learning approach
Functional Analysis
in behaviorism, a description of how a behavior is a function of the environment of the person or animal that performs it
Habituation
the decrease in response to a stimulus on repeated applications
this is the simplest kind of learning
Classical Conditioning
the kind of learning in which an unconditioned response (such as salivating) that is naturally elicited by one stimulus (such as food) becomes elicited also by a new, conditioned stimulus (such as a bell)
Learned Helplessness
a belief that nothing one does matters, derived from an experience of random or unpredictable reward or punishment, and theorized to be a basis of depression
Respondent Conditioning
Skinner’s term for classical conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Skinner’s term for the process of learning in which an organism’s behavior is shaped by the effect of the behavior in the environment
Reinforcement
in operant conditioning, a reward that, when applied following a behavior, increases the frequency of that behavior
in classical conditioning, this refers to the pairing of an unconditioned stimulus (such as food) with a conditioned stimulus (such as a bell)
Self-Efficacy
one’s beliefs about the degree to which one will be able to accomplish a goal if one tries
Self-Concept
a person’s knowledge and opinions about herself
Observational Learning
;earning a behavior by watching someone else do it
Goal
in learning and cognitive approaches to personality, a desired end state that serves to direct perception, thought, and behavior
Strategy
a sequence of activities directed toward a goal
Entity Theory
in Dweck’s theory of motivation, an individual’s belief that abilities are fixed and unchangeable
Incremental Theory
in Dweck’s theory of motivation, an individual’s belief that abilities can increase with experience and practice
Procedural Knowledge
what a person knows but cannot really talk about
sometimes called knowing how
Emotional Intelligence
the ability to perceive emotions accurately in oneself and others and to control and use one’s own emotions constructively
Cognitive Control
using rational thinking to regulate one’s emotions and to control how one reacts to emotional feelings
Ontological Self
the somewhat mysterious inner self of thinking, observation, and experience
also called the I, as opposed to the me or epistemological self
Epistemological Self
knowledge of one’s own personality traits, experiences, and other attributes
also called the me, as opposed to the I or the ontological self
Declarative Knowledge
information held in memory that is able to be verbalized
sometimes called knowing that
Declarative Self
an individual’s (conscious) opinions about his or her own personality traits and other relevant attributes
Self-Esteem
the degree to which a person thinks he or she is good or bad, worthy or unworthy
Self-Schema
the cognitive structure hypothesized to contain a person’s self-knowledge and to direct self-relevant thought
Long-Term Memory (LTM)
the final stage of information processing, in which a nearly unlimited amount of information can be permanently stored in an organized manner
this information may not always be accessible, however, depending on how it was stored and how it is looked for
Self-Reference Effect
the enhancement of long-term memory that comes from thinking about how information being memorized relates to the self
Procedural Self
patterns of behavior that are characteristic of an individual
What is self efficacy?
the expectation that one can accomplish something successfully
beliefs, rather than actual skill
affects persistence
associations with the self-concept
goal of psychotherapy
What are idiographic goals?
unique to the individuals who pursue them (not shared by friends, family, etc.)
conscious at least some of the time (may not always be aware of all goals)
aimed at specific outcomes
can change
function independently
What are nomothetic goals?
essential motivations that almost everyone pursues
achievement/excellence
affiliation/intimacy
power/status
What is an entity theory of the world?
goal: judgement
response to failure: helplessness
believe that people’s abilities are fixed, level of skill is unchangeable, looking to demonstrate their skill
What is an incremental theory of the world?
goal: development
response to failure: mastery
believe that people can change level of ability, if you don’t use it you’ll lose it, opportunities to learn new skills and improve oneself
What is defensive pessimism?
assume the worst will happen and use this assumption to motivate goal-seeking behavior
coping, performance, and success are similar to optimists
find relief when the worst outcomes doesn’t happen
some consistency across situations
advantages and disadvantages to both strategies
What is self-determination theory?
distinguishes between intrinsic and extrinsic goals
support for 3 needs fosters enhanced performance, persistence, and creativity
competence: need to be effective
autonomy: need for control
relatedness/connection: need for close relations with others
What is the Cognitive Affective Personality System (CAPS)?
if… then contingencies: actions triggered by particular stimulus situations
behavioral signature = patterns of contingencies
could replace personality traits
What are Beliefs, Emotions, and Action Tendencies (BEATS)?
people have basic needs that combine to produce emergent needs, from which the final need for self-coherence or meaning in life emerges
basic motivations lead to goals; goals create BEATS
What is the declarative self?
all of your conscious knowledge or opinions about your own personality traits
includes self-esteem and self-schema
What is self-esteem?
an overall opinion about whether you are good or bad, worthy or unworthy, or somewhere in between
What is self-schema?
a more detailed opinion about your traits and abilities
What are possible selves?
the images we have, or can construct, of the other possible ways we might be
What is self-discrepancy theory?
the interactions between possible selves and the actual self determine feelings about life
What is the ideal self?
reward based
discrepancy –> depression
promotion-focused motivation
What is the ought self?
punishment based
discrepancy –> anxiety
prevention-focused motivation
