Personality and Learning Flashcards
Skinner
Did not believe in personality as it cannot be measured. Individuals differ because of the reinforcement and conditioning that they experience.
Dollard and Miller
Tried to integrate learning theory and Freud. Children are born with innate drives. When they act on these drives, their behaviour is reinforced so they continue the behaviour. For example, when a baby is hungry it fusses. They then get fed so next time they are hungry (need to meet drive) they will fuss.
Bandura
We choose how to learn. Forethought helps us make sense of the consequences of our actions which influences future behaviour. We also learn through observing and modelling the behaviour of others.
Reciprocal Determinism
Drives our behaviours. The interaction between personal (cognition, emotion), behavioural (influence cognitions, emotions and neurobiology) and environmental (provides choices).
Behavioural Potential
Likelihood of acting in a particular way in a given situation. Reinforcement value (preference for reinforcement) X expectancy about outcome (based on experience) = BP
Locus of Control
People think about reinforcement in terms of being controlled by internal or external forces. Internals are more empowered (have control over self), whereas externals are more passive (others have control).
Critiques of Skinner
Doesn’t account for the complexity of human life. Used animal studies to make inferences about human behaviour, people may continue behaviour despite reinforcement.
Critiques of Dollard and Miller
Theory lacks detail, is highly deterministic (people can change), doesn’t acknowledge stable characteristics that influence behaviour and is also based on animal studies.
Critiques of Bandura and Rotter
Emphasises the role of learning in personality development but ignores biological/environmental factors. Lacks ecological validity due to lab-based research.
