Module 7 - Theories of Social Development Flashcards
What is the big idea in behavioursism?
that all behaviour can be reduced to a simple stimulus-response relationship.
In other words, all behaviours are learned from the environment.
Classical Conditioning
is the learning that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired.
First introduced by Pavlov
John Watson
applied Pavlov’s findings to humans, and was actually the first to coin the term “behaviourism”.
Watson was such a strong proponent of behaviourism that he argued that he could take any child and raise them to be anything, no matter their background or inheritance.
What did Watson’s work in classical conditioning lay a groundwork for?
the treatment of phobias (systematic desensitization).
Through repeated pairing of a fear stimulus (i.e., spiders) with a neutral event (i.e., you aren’t bitten and cope with your fears), this process can successfully reduce anxiety.
Operant conditioning
a learning process whereby behaviour is influenced by its consequences.
a behavioural learning theory that is used to understand how consequences shape behaviour.
B.F Skinner
Largely considered the father of operant conditioning, although his work is based on Thorndike’s Law of Effect.
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
This principle posits that behaviours which are followed by pleasant consequences are likely to be repeated, whereas behaviours that are followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.
According to operant conditioning, behaviours can be either
reinforced or punished.
Reinforcement increases the frequency of desirable behaviour
Punishment decreases the frequency of an undesirable behaviour.
Reinforcement and punishment can result from either
applying a stimulus (“positive”) or removing a stimulus (“negative”).
3 big ideas showcasing operant conditioning in the context of child development:
Spanking
Time out, and
Reinforcement schedules
Spanking Research
While corporal punishment can work momentarily to stop problematic behaviour because children are afraid of being hit, research shows it is ineffective in the long term and can make children more aggressive.
Spanking is associated with negative long term outcomes for children even in cultures where it is normative to use corporal punishment.
United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends all forms of physical punishment should be eliminated. While 59 countries around the world have outlawed all forms of physical punishment, including spanking, this practice is still partially legal in Canada.
Time out - Role of attention
Behaviourists argue that attention itself can serve as a powerful reinforcer, even if the attention itself is not positive.
For example, consider a child who was having a temper tantrum because you asked them to put away their favourite toy. Behaviourists like Skinner would argue that yelling at the child for their bad behaviour could inadvertently reinforce the child’s behaviour.
The adult yelling at the child positively reinforces the child’s screaming for their toy, because the child receives an increase in a desired behaviour (attention from the parent).
Time out draws its name from what? t
he behaviourist idea of “time out from positive reinforcement”.
Reinforcement schedules
how and when reinforcement occurs helps to shape the subsequent learning and behaviour modification.
Reinforcers are typically most effective in shaping behaviour when they immediately follow the behaviour and are consistently delivered.
Reinforcement schedules and spanking
In most cases, spanking does not follow the appropriate conditions for behaviour modification – it is usually not immediately delivered and typically not applied in every instance of the undesirable behaviour
What is thought to be the one of the main reasons why spanking is an ineffective punishment?
Reinforcement schedules
Extinction
Extinction occurs when a reinforcer is continuously withheld, such that the target behaviour no longer occurs. Certain reinforcement schedules, particularly intermittent reinforcement, make behaviours more resistant to extinction.
How are behaviours reinforced?
(either by adding or removing a stimulus), they are likely to increase in frequency
How are behaviours punished?
(either by adding or removing a stimulus), they are likely to decrease in frequency.
Time out follows what principle?
time out follows the principles of operant conditioning. When we remove a stimulus (like attention) to reduce an undesirable behaviour, this is negative punishment.
Bandura’s theory stresses behavioural concepts like…?
Reinforcement
However, Bandura’s theory can be considered a “bridge” between behaviourism and cognitive processing theories, as he also emphasizes the importance of cognition.
What are the five components of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory most relevant to child development?
1) Learning by observation
2) Learning does not equal behaviour
3) Role of cognition in learning
4) The active child
5) Perceived self-efficacy
What is Bandura’s biggest theoretical contribution?
His notion that people can learn simply by observing someone else’s behaviour
Bandura’s concept of learning by observation was notably different than existing behaviourist ideas, which only considered the child’s own behaviour as a means of learning.
reciprocal determinism
child-environment influences operate in both directions;children are both affected by and influence aspects of their environment
every child has predispositions that lead them to seek out certain kinds of experiences, and these experiences in turn influence the child.