Lecture 01 Human behaviour Flashcards
Behaviour
an
action, activity or
process which can be
observed and
measured.
Decision contexts
Time pressure, urgency, reversibility, investment, cost, duration, expertise, familiarity
Properties of behaviour
Conscious/unconscious, simple/complex, take effort/courage, voluntary/involuntary, familiar/unfamiliar, innate/learned
Innate behaviour
Genetically hardwired behaviour in an organism
Learned behaviour
A learned behaviour is one
that an organism develops
as a result of their
experiences.
What is a habit?
A habit is a repeated behaviour that is triggered by cues in our environment.
Classical conditioning
Learning to associate a neutral stimulus with an involuntary response, by repeatedly pairing the neutral stimulus with something that causes the involuntary response.
Operant conditioning
Learning to associate a
voluntary behaviour with a
consequence. (reward/punishment)
What is a reinforcement?
A reinforcement is any
event that increases the
likelihood that the same
behaviour will occur again.
What is a punishment?
A punishment is any event
that reduces the likelihood
that the behaviour will
occur again.
Positive reinforcement
Adding something desired (presenting a positive stimulus) (e.g., receiving an award for outstanding efforts)
Negative reinforcement
Removing something undesired (removing a negative stimulus) (e.g., the beeping sound in a car stops once the seat belt is used)
Intermittent reinforcement
A reward is delivered
at irregular intervals (not
every time that the
behaviour is performed
Drive-Reduction Theory
Organisms strive for homeostasis, a balanced state.
Over time, we learn which behaviours can reduce
tension (drive reduction) and restore homeostasis.
Learned Helplessness
A negative situation
No control over
No attempts to change
circumstances even
when they have the
control back.
Motivation for neurotypicals in building a habit
rewards, importance, consequence
Motivation for neurodivergent (adhd, autism)
interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, passion
The Fundamental Attribution Error
Behaviour change is approached from a place of biased assumptions, not empathy.
Motivation
Energizes, directs and sustains behaviour.
Seeking and wanting change.
The ‘why’ of human behaviour.
A dynamic state, not a trait.
Arousal
Arousal is a personal state of activation. It describes a
variation in the readiness of an organism to react.
Incentive
Anticipated affective state
Intrinsic incentive
Driven by the enjoyment
of an activity.
Extrinsic incentive
Tied to external goals or
purposes.
Approach motivation
Refers to someone who is
motivated by the prospect of a positive outcome.
Avoidance motivation
Being strongly motivated by doing something to avoid a negative outcome.
Intention action gap
Describes the discrepancy between our intentions, or what we plan to achieve, and our actual actions, or what we ultimately do
The Broaden-and-Build Theory of
Positive Emotions
Positive emotions such as joy, interest, and
contentment broaden our thought-action repertoire.
Negative emotions narrow our mindsets, as does exerting self-control
Field Theory
Several “forces” affecting an individual at the same time can lead to goal conflicts.
Approach-approach conflicts
e.g., having to choose between two equally attractive options
Avoidance-avoidance conflicts
e.g., choosing between two aversive options
approach-avoidance conflicts
e.g., an attractive goal that requires aversive actions before it can be attained)
