Malcolm X Flashcards
How did observational learning influence Malcolm X’s early views?
He observed his father preach and adopt separatist views, which he later mirrored in adulthood
How did classical conditioning shape Malcolm X’s views on white Americans?
Negative experiences (e.g., racism at school, teacher rejection) became associated with white people, conditioning a negative emotional response.
How did operant conditioning influence Malcolm X’s development?
Positive punishment: physical beatings
Negative punishment: imprisonment (loss of freedom)
Reinforcement: extrinsic (recognition for adopting “X”), intrinsic (self-love through Islam)
What role did vicarious reinforcement play in shaping Malcolm’s behavior?
He admired and emulated the behavior of other Black youth in Boston who gained respect through criminal conduct
What is an example of self-reinforcement in Malcolm’s story?
He maintained internal validation, such as pride in dying for what he believed in.
How does Dollard & Miller’s learning theory explain Malcolm X’s transformation post-prison?
Drive: need for belonging
Cue: presence of white Americans
Response shift: before prison = appeasement of whites (e.g., white girlfriend, jobs); after prison = racial separation and identification with Black identity
Reinforcement: belonging through the Nation of Islam
Result: a shift in the habit hierarchy due to unmet needs and repeated punishment
Use the CAPS model to explain Malcolm X’s behavior as a hustler.
Encodings: Boston as a survival-focused environment
Expectancies & Beliefs: Money = happiness
Affects: Money and crime elicited pleasure
Goals & Values: Material acquisition for survival
Competencies & Self-regulation: Charisma and adaptability in navigating criminal environments
How did Malcolm X defy Maslow’s claim that lower-order needs take priority?
He continued to pursue civil rights (self-actualization) despite threats to his safety (e.g., after leaving Nation of Islam)
What conditions allow self-actualization even when lower needs aren’t met?
Temporal satisfaction of lower needs (remembering needs satisfied in the past)
Perceived competence to meet those needs (Malcolm believed he could survive threats)
How does Maslow’s view of self-actualization differ from Rogers’?
Maslow: Self-actualization = end-state, achieved after meeting lower needs
Rogers: Actualization = ongoing process, driven by an innate tendency regardless of conditions
Was Malcolm X self-actualized under both theories?
Yes. His life shows traits of Maslow’s end-state and Rogers’ actualizing tendency, especially later in life
According to Ryan & Deci, what are the three psychological needs for self-determination?
Autonomy, competence, and relatedness
When did Malcolm X achieve full self-determination?
After visiting Mecca and forming the Organization of Afro-American Unity, fulfilling all three psychological needs.
How did Malcolm X progress through types of regulation?
Introjected Regulation: Adopting Black youth behavior in Boston
Identified Regulation: Internalizing new values in prison
Integrated Regulation: Deep adoption of Nation of Islam values
Intrinsic Motivation: Creating his own organization post-Islam
