Exam 3 Essay Questions Flashcards
Discuss the importance of sensory stimulation for the development of a child or young animal, and give evidence from both human and animal studies.
In a study by Thompson and Melsack, Scottish terriers derived of sensory stimulation for 7-10 months, once released were extremely active and playful like puppies and explored more, even showed a higher activity levels years later. Sensory restriction apparently altered the normal motivational behavior of the dogs.
In a study by Patton and Gardner, has shown a lack of appropriate home conditions may result in a condition called deprivation dwarfism, a reduction of bone maturation. Heights range from 20% to 65% of normal. Appearing malnourished but their diets seemed adequate. Emotionally these children were lethargic, apathetic and withdrawn, with faces sad, rarely smiling and avoiding contact with other people.
Explain, and give two examples of, opponent processing.
The opponent-process model assumes that the physiological process that triggers the initial hedonic reaction(A) will be opposed by a second physiological state, which will trigger an opposite hedonic reaction(B).
One example would be thrill seeking where a strong (b) occurs after the initial fear-producing (A). Another would be drug addiction where the substance will initially offer pleasurable feelings (A) along with an adverse withdrawal state (B).
Discuss the concept of “needs,” with reference to Lewin and to Murray.
Murray believed that motivations processes result fom individual needs, that can be best observed in a natural setting or clinical situation. He argued that peole can be classified according to the strengths of the various needs he identified.
He defined needs to be a recurrent concern for a goal state and believed that a need consists of two components, the object that will satisfy th need and the energy that drives the behavior or intensity of the need.
Lewin’s motivational constructs included psychological needs (which he termed quasi-needs) that often seem to be cognitive in nature. He also included the concept of valence or value as a means of explaining why one behavior might be chosen over another when trying to satisfy a need.
What is social loafing, and what are some ways to overcome it?
Working with a group with an opportunity to slack off based on the expectancy that the rest of the group will work hard enough to accomplish the valued goal. A few ways to overcome social loafing in a group is to assign tasks to individual group members, create smaller sub-groups within the group, create performance rewards for individual and group performance.
What are the differences between conformity, compliance, and obedience?
Conformity: when a change in one’s beliefs or behaviors as a result of real or imagined pressure from a group or individual.
Compliance: behavior change in response to a direct request of another with no buy in from the individual.
Obedience: change in behavior in response to a direct order, where being obedient can be a reason to take responsibility for the behavior from the induvial.
What is diffusion of responsibility, and how does it influence helping behavior?
A lack of intervention due to the presence of others when one was already reluctant to intervene where the presence of others takes the responsibility off the individual and it’s diffused among all that are present.
The problem is that each individual there can be impacted by the diffusion of responsibility with a potential outcome that no one intervenes or helps.
