Theories Of Behavior Part 2 Flashcards
Describe what factors influence effectiveness of Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is most effective in changing behavior when RF/P occurs immediately and consistently after the behavior occurs, and contingency is clear
Describe the combination approach?
Typically a combination of RF and P is used to develop a behavior—a child learns how to behave correctly (via RF) and how not to behave
What is learned helplessness?
Overuse of punishment may cause a person to develop LH (become passive and not try any longer)
This is commonly seen in depressed people
How does learned helplessness develop in depressed people?
This is due to cognitive bias of over-generalization, a patient incorrectly thinks that he has failed “at everything”
The maladaptive belief leads to LH
How can learned helplessness be reversed in the depressed?
- Cognitive therapy(to correct cognitive bias)
- Antidepressant medication(known to reverse induced LH in non-human animal models
- before a drug with potential antidepressant effects reaches human clinical trials, the drug must pass a LH screening test using a non-human animal model
What is shaping/successive approximations?
The process by which a behavior can be developed from scratch by reinforcing actions that are successively closer to that behavior that is desired
What is operant extinction?
The process of weakening a previously-reinforced behavior by stopping the reinforcement.
If a was increased by RF, then the behavior would be extinguish if the reinforcement stops
What is the difference between operant extinction and punishment?
With operant extinction when previously reinforced behavior is emitted, nothing happens. (The RF no longer occurs)
With punishment, a behavior is emitted, and something happens to discourage the behavior (I.e. followed by the consequence)
What are continuous schedules and the problem with them?
This is a type of frequency of how often RF or P is administered
Continuous schedules: RF/P every time the behavior occurs
Problem: Operant extinction may occur if RF stops
What are intermittent schedules?
RF/P only sometimes the behavior occurs
What are the 4 types of intermittent schedules ?
Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval variable interval
A boy learns to brush his teeth before bedtime by being reinforced with praise from his parents. The parents stop praising him. As a result, the boy stops brushing his teeth at night. The behavior of “brushing his teeth” has weakened. This is an example of…
Operant extinction
A boy fails to brush his teeth before bedtime, and he gets scolded. As a result, the behavior of “NOT brushing his teeth” has weakened. This is an example of…
Punishment
What is a fixed ratio intermittent schedule? What is its problem?
RF/P is given after a predictable number of responses are made (e.g. after every 5th action)
Problem: operant extinction may occur if RF stops
What is a variable ratio intermittent schedule ?
RF/P is given after an unpredictable number of responses are made (e.g. after the 3rd, 5th and 9th action)
What is the problem with both fixed ratio and variable ratio intermittent schedules ?
Behaviors reinforced in this manner are difficult to eliminate because ANY response could be RF even when a response hasn’t been reinforced recently
What are fixed interval intermittent schedules?
RF/P is given after a fixed period of time has passed (e.g. the last day of each month)
What is the variable interval intermittent schedule ?
RF/P is given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed (e.g. the 16th day of the month, then the 2nd day of the month, then the 28th of the month)
What is the problem with fixed and variable interval intermittent schedules?
Interval schedules produce slower responding than ratio schedules, since rewards come after time has passed, not after a certain amount of time has passed, not a certain amount of time of productivity
Give a clarification of schedules
Ratio schedules can be:
Continuous- every response
Fixed- after every X number of responses
Variable- after an unpredictable number of responses
Interval schedules
Fixed- after every X amount if time passes
Variable- after an unpredictable amount of time passes
What is vicarious learning?
Learning behavior through observation
Many behaviors can be learned through observation(social skills, anger, fears)
Learning can take place without being directly RF/P. Learning can take place through seeing it happen to somebody else
Describe the major features of the psychodynamic theory
Behavior is due to intro psychic forces, urges and motivation, focuses on the unconscious
Past relationships play a role in a person’s present functioning
Believes in revealing the contents of the unconscious
According to the psychodynamic theory, what 3 parts are the mind divided into?
Id
Ego
Superego
According to the psychodynamic theory, what is the function of Id?
This part o& the mind uses primitive instinct and uses functions based on the “pleasure principle”
According to the psychodynamic theory, what is the function of ego(the self)?
This part of the mind regulates id and operates based on the “reality principle”
According to the psychodynamic theory, what is the function of superego(morality)?
This learned part of mind observes and evaluates, prohibits and punishes based on right/wrong principles
Explain, what occurs when there is conflict between the 3 parts of the mind according to the psychodynamic theory?
Conflict between these parts cause anxiety which may trigger the mind to use a “defense mechanism” to protect the ego
Defenses are performed unconsciously and spontaneously with the goal of coping/distorting/denying reality
How may defense mechanisms be categorized?
Some defenses are considered adaptive/mature ways of dealing with internal conflict while others are immature/maladaptive
What is denial?
A defense mechanism where someone refuses to believe a clear fact and thus not adjusting ones behavior
What is repression ?
A defense mechanism where a person keeps one’s feelings/thoughts out of conscious awareness
What is displacement?
A defense mechanism where a person redirects their feelings from the original(true) source of the emotion and taking out the emotion on another source
What is projection?
Defense mechanism, one disowns their own feelings and giving ownership of those feelings to somebody else
What is identification(introspection)?
A defense mechanism where one patterns their behavior after someone else
What is regression?
A defense mechanism, where a person regresses to a behavioral pattern associated with an earlier stage in development
What is splitting?
A defense mechanism where one views the world as a polarized fashion,( good or bad with no in-between) by selectively focusing on positive or negative attributes
What is the isolation of affect?
A defense mechanism where emotion is stripped away from a thought/memory, leaving an emotionless narrative
What is intellectualization?
A defense mechanism where emotion is stripped away from a thought/memory and replaced the emotion with excessive use of intellect in the narrative (e.g, emotionless with excessive use of jargon)
What is rationalization?
Making excuses o make oneself feel/look better in a given situation e.g. I didn’t really want the job anyway
What is somatization?
A defense mechanism, transforming psychological distress into a physical symptom e.g. exam stress transformed to headaches
What is acting out?
A defense mechanism where a person performs an external used behavior to express feelings that person isn’t able to express appropriately
E.g. anger is expressed via a tantrum not verbally
What is passive aggression?
A defense mechanism where Expressing hostility through passivity (lack of action)e.g. being late
What is reaction formation?
A defense mechanism showing the opposite behavior as to how one really feels (e.g. obsessive sexual urges expressed as prudish behavior)
What is dissociation?
A defense mechanism where distancing/removing one self mentally from an experience to prevent the full distressful impact of the event
What is undoing ?
A defense mechanism where a person completes an action that was symbolically reverses/repairs the unacceptable behavior or feeling
(e,g, flirting with a colleague then later complimenting spouse)
What is altruism (ego-defensive altruism)?
A defense mechanism where performing an altruistic act with a conscious altruistic intention but also an UNCONSCIOUS SELF-SERVING MOTIVATION
e.g. a generous charitable donation assumes one’s guilt about past unpaid debts
How can humor be a defense mechanism ?
Expressing distress by joking about a distressful thought
What is sublimation?
Expressing an undesirable emotion/impulse in a constructive, socially acceptable manner
(Anger released through exercise)
What is suppression?
Consciously putting an upsetting thought temporarily out of mind of retrieving (and addressing) at a more appropriate time
(E.g. dealing with bad news after an important event)
What are the limitations of the psychodynamic theory?
- A major criticism with this theoretical perspective is that the concepts are difficult to prove experimentally
- Treatment techniques based on these principles may have a more limited role in treatment of psychopathology
What is the interactions approach? Give an example
The interactional approach views behavior from each theoretical perspective rather than just one
Example: anorexia nervosa
Biology: genetic predisposition and neurochemistry
Cognitive: distorted thoughts
Behavioral: positive reinforcement
Psychodynamic theory: family dynamics
