Transcript Document
John B. Watson
Came up with tabula rasa: we are all born the same
and through conditioning we are who we are
Little albert experiment
Felt that psych should only focus on behavior
John Watson: Aversive conditioning
Aversive conditioning (conditioning for negative
response)
Little albert experiment (11 months)
Associates mouth with painful experience
UCS-loud noise
UCR-fear
CS-rat
CR-fear of rat
Second order conditioning
Second order or higher order conditioning
Once a CS elicits a CR, the CS can be used (as US) to
condition a response to a new stimulus
Ex: dogs salivate to bell (first order conditioning)
Light is paired with bell (second order)
Light-salivation
Biology and classical conditioning
Animals/ humans are biologically wired to make
certain association more easily than other
Ex:
Conditioned (learned) taste aversions (adaptive
response)
-Fudge: shaped in squares and dog feces
-Bottle: labeled sucrose and cyanide
-Classical conditioning, but biologically
predisposed
Operant conditioning
Learning based on consequences
-association made between consequences and ones
behavior
Thorndike’s law of effect
-positive consequences result in strong stimuli response
connection
Negative consequences results in weakened stimulus
response connection-decreased behavior
Instrumental learning: consequence shapes behaviors
Classical vs operant conditioning
Classical-stimuli
Operant-consequences
B.F. Skinner
Felt that external influences not internal thought
feeling influence behavior
Something that you can test not unconscious
What can lead to certain behavior
Operant conditioning
Most influential individual in the field
The skinner box
Testing rewards and punishment
Experiment on rats
Skinner’s reinforcement
Reinforcement: a consequence that encourages a certain
behavior
Positive (+) reinforcement: add something pleasant (treat
for a dog)
Negative reinforcement (-) : remove something
unpleasant (take Advil to remove headache)
Negative punishment (omission training): removes
something pleasant (being grounded)
Positive punishment: adds something negative (hitting
dog with newspaper)
Learning by Operant Conditioning
Shaping:
-reinforcing the steps used to reach a desired behavior
(single behaviors-press bar for food)
Chaining:
-reinforcing a number of separate behaviors for a more
complex activity (obstacle course, salsa lessons)
Types of Reinforces
Primary reinforces
-natural reinforces (food, water)
Secondary reinforces
-things we’ve learned to value: (money)
MONEY AS A REINFORCES
money= generalize reinforce
-can be used for anything
Token economy
-tokens as a positive reinforcement
-cash in for other reinforces
-schools, mental institutions, prisons
Biology and operant conditioning
Reinforces: effects can vary
-effect of reinforce can vary depending on animal, its
instincts, and situation
instinctive drift: -ignore rewards to follow
natural (instinctive) behavior
Premark Principle
-if two activities-the one preferred can be used to
reinforce the one not preferred
Reinforcement shedules
Reinforcement schedules=pattern of reinforcing
behavior
Administered in 2 ways:
Ratio-number of responses
Interval-time
Reinforcement schedules
FR (fixed ratio): reinforcement after set number of
responses
VR (variable ratio): reinforcement after varied
number of responses -lottery
FI( fixed interval): fixed amount of time set before
reward behavior-every 2 weeks get a paycheck
VI(variable interval): varied amount of time before
reward (avg time set)-pop quiz
Learning and extinction
FR and FI=faster acquisition (learning), but faster
extinction
VR and VI: slower learning but slower extinction
Which of these four yields the highest rate of
response?
Why slower extinction with VR and VI?
-noticing a break in pattern is more difficult
- “always that chance”
Learning with punishment
Escape learning
-to terminate an aversive stimulus: ex-to disrupt English
class as to “get out”
Avoidance learning
-to avoid stimulus all together: ex-cut English class
There is a student that disruptive in class and gets
kicked out, he doesn’t want to be in class anyways so
getting kicked is what motivates him to keep doing it
Pitfalls of punishment
According to behaviorists, what are potential pitfalls
of punishment
-tells only what NOT to do, not what to do
-creates anxiety which interferes with learning
-only suppresses behavior, doesn’t eliminate
(discrimination)
-Physical punishment-aggressive behavior (correlation,
not causation)
Classical vs operant
Similar
-both forms of associate learning
-both involve: acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery,
generalization, discrimination
-both influenced by biology and cognition
Differences
-classical: response is automatic, reward independent of
action, learning is part of the autonomic response (UCR)
-operant: response is voluntary, reward contingent on action,
learning is part of voluntary behavior
PAVLOV
-classical conditioning-how all organism learn to adapt to
their environment
-practical applications for fears, phobias etc.
Skinner
-definitive insight into learned behavior
-practical applications abound
Both asserted that learning occurs w/o though (cognition)
Only focused on observable behavior
Cognitive learning
How could cognitive argue that cognition is influential
in both classical and operant conditioning
-classical: CS triggers anticipation of UCS
-operant: awareness that responses=consequences
and thus acts to max the reinforcement
Cognitive learning
Observational learning
-aka modeling
-observation=imitation
-mirror neurons (frontal lobe/neural basis for observational
learning)
-Albert Banduras: Bobo doll experiment
social learning theory (species specific)
antisocial BEHAVIOR (Bobo doll experiment: two dolls in diff
rooms, one acted upon aggression other nice, see response in
students )
Implications for TV and youth?
Cognitive learning
Latent learning (“hidden”)
Learning that is not directly observable
Tolman’s Rat maze study
-group 1: rewarded every time reached goal
-group 2: no reward when reached goal
-group 3: no reward 1st 10 days, reward on 11th
finding: Latent learning (3rd group learned cognitive map
in 1st trial, bur didn’t show it until reward)
thus learning takes place without reinforcement
Cognitive Learning
Insight learning (aha!)
Sudden grasp of problem
Wolfgang Kohler: Chimpanzees
Sudden insight, not gradual strengthening od S-R
association
Cognition
Memory process 3 steps
Encoding: processing of info into memory system
(typing on a computer)
Storage: retention of encoded material over time (to
hit save)
Retrieval: getting the info out of storage (opening a
file)
The stage processing model
Sensory memory: held for a few sec according to the
sensory impact on our organs (glow sticks)
Short-term memory (working memory)
Long-term memory
Sensory memory
Immediate recording of sensory info
“Split sec holding tank”
Most stimulus no encoded
-selective attention: only pay attention to certain
things
Sensory memory registered as:
-iconic (split sec vanishing picture)
-echoic (4 sec sounds)
Short term memory (working
memory)
Memory that holds a few items briefly
Limit: seven digits/ items (plus or minus 2)
Info is stored into long-term, or forgotten
Lasts 3-12 sec
Shirt term, or working memory has 3 parts:
-acoustics codes: encoding sound
-visual codes: how you see the letters
-semantic codes: meaning
Long term memory
Permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory
system
Flashbulb memory
An extreme emotional moment or event
Somehow branded into long-term memory
Where were you when?
-you heard about 9/11
-your first kiss
-first car accident
Encoding
2 ways:
-automatic processing
-effortful processing
Encoding
Automatic:
-unconscious encoding
-location, time and frequency
-retracing steps to find your keys
-also becomes automatic with practice
Encoding
Effortful processing
-attention/ conscious effort
-studying for a test
-through practice effortful can become automatic
Factors that influence
Spacing effect
-encode info better if in increments over time
Serial positioning effect
-tendency to recall best the first and last items in a list
-primary effect: remember 1st words, items
-regency effect: remember last items, words
Next-in-line effect
-don’t remember what someone has said if we are next..
Self-reference effect
-we encode better when issue relates to us
Encoding strategies
Can enhance memory …
Mnemonic devices
Any learning technique that aids memory
-uses imagery, semantics to remember…
Acronyms:
Parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division,
addition, subtraction
“Please excuse my dear aunt Sally”
Storage and short- term memory
Last usually between 3 to 12 seconds
Limit: 7 (plus or minus 2) chunks of info
We recall digits better than letters .
Remember: there is no one single compartment for
memory in our brain
Long term-potentiation
-leading theory for LTM (long term memories)
-neural networks strengthen memory
-neural connections gradually strengthen through rehearsal
over time (memory strengthened)
-nerve cell’s genes produce synapse strengthening proteins/
enabling LTM formation
Hippocampus
Critical memory (injury=impairment)
-left=vertical memory
-right= visual/location
Processes LTM, then stores elsewhere in cerebral
cortex
Ex: if library=our brain, librarian=hippocampus
Amygdala
Emotional memories
-images, smells, sounds
Hippocampus and amygdala work together to form
LTM
-hippo=conscious memory of event
-amygdala=emotional memory form the senses
Retrieval recall vs recognition
Recognition; multiple choice
Recall; long response
Retrieval cues
Memory = web of associations
Priming “strand or web of associations that leads to a
specific memory”
Factors that influence retrieval
Context effect
-retrieval is more effective when retrieving in some
location as experienced
Tip of the tongue effect(TOT)
-temporary inability to retrieve specific names of info
-usually remedied by semantic cues
Conditions that affect memory
Mood-congruent theory
-the tendency to recall memories consistent with our
current mood
State - dependent theory
-recalling events encoded while in a particular state of
consciousness
-ex: if you hide money while you are drunk, you are
most likely to remember where you hid it when you are
intoxicated
3 ways we forget
Encoding failure
Storage decay
Retrieval failure
Encoding
Don’t encode what we don’t need
Not encoding/ no LTM
Storage decay
Memory storage decays over time
Lack of rehearsal accelerates decay
Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve
-step decline of retention over 1st 3 days, then levels
off…
Retrieval failure
2 TYPES:
Proactive interference
-new info is messed up by the old info
-pro=new
Retroactive interference
-old info is messed up by new learning
-retro=old
Retrieval failure
REPRESSION:
Psychoanalytic theory-Freud’s theory of repression
-we push away uncomfortable memories
-contradicts theory that emotions/stress hormones
strengthen memories
Research studies
Memories bend and change over time, and are often
inaccurate!!
Youngest and oldest (5-75) are most susceptible
-frontal lobe: matures slowly and decays quickly
Research studies
Elizabeth Loftus (over 200 experiments)
-how wording influences our memory
Cornell University-Space Shuttle Disaster
-recollections on day after and 3 years later
-2/3 were totally wrong as to whom with, where etc.
Misinformation effect
About how fast were the vehicles going where they
slammed into each other
OR
When they ran into each other?
Amnesia
Forgetting source of a memory
Where did they hear that?
One of the frailest parts of our memory
Types of amnesia
Anterograde
-remember everything before the accident, but not
after (50 first dates)
Retrograde Amnesia
-remember everything after the incident, but not before
(the vow)
Organizing our thoughts
(making cognitive sense out of our
world)
Cognition
Concept
Category hierarchies
We from concepts by…
-definition
-prototypes: dog-first kind of dog that pops into your
head
Problem solving with cognition
Cognitive problem solving
-algorithms: always leads to right answer
-heuristics: saves you time, shortcut
-insight:
Limitations of heuristic judgment
Heuristic problem solving: hugely useful, but
sometimes leads us astray..
Availability heuristic: how we tend to judge things
what we are exposed the most (why we develop
fears of airplanes, than driving cars)
Representative heuristic:
Limitations of heuristic judgments
Overconfidence
Belief bias: only pay attention to things we believe on
Belief perseverance (confirmation bias): only focus on
what confirms our beliefs
Framing
Obstacles to problem solving
Confirmation bias
Fixation
-mental sets/ rigidity: we fall victim into using the
same problem solving because it has worked in the past
-functional fixedness: we cant use an object
differently that what it is made for
Creativity and cognition
Positive correlation between both
Creativity: ability to create something new and useful
Types :
-convergent thinking
-divergent thinking
Language
Key component to humans thoughts
language
What component distinguishes language from other
of communication?
-words (spoken, written or signed)
Language structure
Phonemes :
-phono-sound
-smallest unit of sound in language
-40 English language
Morphemes :
-smallest units of meaning
-prefixes, suffixes
Grammar semantics and syntax)
Grammar: system of rules that govern language
-semantics: the study of meaning for morphemes words
sentences
-adding -ed suffix=past tense
-Syntax: rules for combining words into sentences
-adjectives comes before nouns
Language development
4 m-babbles speech sounds
10- babbles household language
12-one-word stage
24-two-word stage (telegraphic speech)
24+- rapid development into complete sentences
Theories of language development
Skinner vs. Chomsky
Skinner
-language= operant conditioning (nurture)
-association: pairing objects with words
-imitation: words and syntax modeled by others
-reinforcement: praise
Chomsky
-language occurs naturally (nature)
-Language acquisition device: brain is prewired for universal grammars-thus
ready to learn any languages (switches will be set to specific language)
-surface structure: organization of language
-deep structure: meaning
Lang development
Babies- a built in readiness to learn grammatical rules
Critical period
-childhood: best/only time to master certain elements of
language
2nd language: those who learn it best
(Chomsky: LAD-grammar switches set early)
-Learning window-closes gradually after the age of 7
-Hearing children/deaf children :parallel results
-No language as child/ language learning capacity never fully
develops
Bilingual advantage
More advanced in school
Better at following complex directions
Demonstrate better mental flexibility
Tend to perform better on tests of creativity
Motivation and emotion
Motivational theories and concepts
Motives-needs, wants, desires leading to goal
directed behavior
Drive theories-seeking homeostasis( internal balance)
Incentive theories-regulating by external stimuli
Evolutionary theories-maximizing reproductive
success
Theories of motivation
Instinct theory (fixed action patterns) : the theory
that all behaviors will be determined by innate factors
and biologically based behaviors that generally lead
to survival
-the term instinct was becoming overused, so the
psychologist changed the phrase they use to fixed…..
Drive reduction theory
Drive theory: the idea that a physiological need
created a state of tension ( a drive) motivating an
organism to satisfy their needs
-states that a person will eat food as a result of a drive
of hunger
-aims for homeostasis or biological balance
Theories of motivation
Cognitive social learning theory: our behavior is determined by 2
factors:
1) the expectations of meeting a goal
2) the personal value of the goal
-locus of control: our belief that we control the outcome of our
own lives-instinisic vs. extinistic control
Psychodynamic theory: our motivation comes from the deep,
dark parts of our unconscious minds (the id)
-we have 2 basic needs
1) Eros- desire for sex
2) Thantos- aggression and destruction
Maslow’s hierarchy / humanistic
Maslow argued that humans behave to satisfy
specific types of need. He broke them into 5
categories:
1) biological: hunger, thirst, warmth
2) Safety: avoid danger
3) Attachment: wanting to belong to something
4) Esteem: seeing oneself as competent and effective
5) Self-actualization: being all that you can possibly be
(achieving your goals)
Maslow’s hierarchy
Maslow said that there is a natural hierarchy or rank
to the need human haves
Before one of the higher needs can be full filed the
need on the levels below must be met, at least some
degree
-most needs are met at a rate of about 85% before a
person can move onto a higher need
Marlow pyramid pic
The motivation of hunger and eating:
biological factors
Brain regulation
-lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus
-periventricular nucleus
Glucose and digestive regulation
-glucostatic theory
Hormonal regulation
-insulin and lepton
The motivation of hunger and eating
environmental factors
Learned preference and habits
-exposure
-when, as well as what
Food-related cues
-appearance, odor, effort required
Stress
-link between heightened arousal/ negative emotion
and overeating
Types of Motivation of achievement
Extrinsic motivation: a desire to perform a behavior because of
promised reward or threats of punishments
Intrinsic motivation: a desire to perform a behavior for its own
sake and to be effective (read a book because you want to)
Achievement motive=need to excel
-work harder
-Delay gratification
-pursue competitive careers
-situational influences on achievement motives
-thematic apperception test (TAT)
Theories of emotion
James-Lange
-feel afraid because pulse is raising
Cannon-bard
-thalamus sends signals simultaneously to the cortex and the
autonomic nervous system
Schacter’s Two-factor theory
-look to external cues to decide what to feel
Evolutionary theories
-innate reactions with little cognitive interpretation
Psychological theories of emotion
Cognitive appraisal theory: the thought that we look
back on a situation and consciously decide how we
should feel about the situation
-ex: grades, papers
Opponent process theory: theory that we trigger one
emotion by suppressing its opposite emotion
-ex: drugs- the highs experienced by some drugs are
replaced with los (withdrawals). Eventually ppl take
drugs no for the highs, but to avoid the lows
Yerkes-Dodson Law
Yerkes-dodson law A theory that a degree of
psychological arousal helps performance, but only to
a certain point. Too much or too little arousal can
decrease performance. Also known as the inverted U
Responding to stress physiologically
Physiological response
-fight-or-flight response (decide to fight or flee stress)
-Seley’s general adaptation syndrome
1) alarm
2) resistance
3) exhaustion
Brain-body pathways in stress-sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM)
-hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA)
PICTURE Figure 13.6
Types of conflict that cause stress
Approach-approach: 2 positive things from which to
decide
Approach-avoidance: decide between a positive or a
negative
Avoidance-avoidance: 2 negative things from which to
decide from
Responding to stress behaviorally
Behavioral response: coping-emotion focused
-frustration-aggression hypothesis
-catharsis: relieve
Defensive Coping-ego defense mechanisms-Freud
Constructive Coping-problem focused
Effects of stress
Impaired task performance
Burnout: antecedent-components-consequences
Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)-effects on
hippocampus (cortisol)-prevalence of traumatic
events
Reaction to traumatic stress
Psychological problems and disorders
Developmental psychology
Prenatal stages
3 phases
-germinal stage= first 2 weeks
conception, implantation, formation of placenta
-embryonic stage= 2 weeks-2 moths
formation of vital organs and systems
-fetal stage= 2 months –birth
bodily growth continues, movement capability begins,
brain cells multiply
Early emotional development :
attachment
Separation anxiety
Ainsworth
-the strange situation and patterns of attachment
1) anxious-ambivalent
2) Avoidant
3) secure:
Developing secure attachment:
-bonding at birth (contact comfort)
-daycare
-cultural factors
Evolutionary perspectives on attachment
Parenting styles
Authoritarian: strict parent
Permissive: I’m too busy, do whatever you want
Authoritative: firm but understanding, sets
boundaries but allows child input
Stage theories of development
:personality
Stages theories: 3 components
-progress through stages in order
-progress through stages related to age
-major discontinuities development
Erik Erikson
-eight stages spanning the lifespan (figure 11.8)
-Psychosocial crises: determining balance between
opposing polarities in personality
Stage theories: cognitive
development
Jean Piaget
-Assimilation/ accommodation
-4 stages and major milestones
1) sensorimotor: object permanence
2) Preoperational: centration, egocentrism
3) Concrete operational: decentration, reversibility,
conservation
4) Formal operation : abstraction, abstract thoughts
Development of moral reasoning
Kohlberg
-reasoning as opposed to behavior
-moral dilemmas
-measured nature and progression of moral reasoning
-3 levels of each 2 sublevels
1) Preconventional-punishment/ native reward
2) Conventional – good boy/ authority
3) Postconventional social contact/ individual principles and
conscience
-Longitudinal studies (research issues (use of males) reasoning vs
behavior
Carol Gilligan
Critique Kohlberg’s work
Kohlberg used most men
Argued that males and females view morality in terms of
broad principles like justice and fairness
Women are taught to view morality in terms of
responsibility towards an individual and a willingness to
help others
For women, compassion is a stronger factor when making
a moral decision
Helps explain why men and women regard morality of a
particular situation in contradictory ways
Adolescence
Pubescence-growth spurts
-10-12 in fem 12-14 males
Puberty
-secondary sex characteristic
-primary sex characteristics
-menarche (menstruation)
-sperm production
Maturation: early vs. late
-sex differences in effects of early maturation
Adulthood and old age
Life spam: max age possible for member of a given
species
Life expectancy: the number of years that an evg
members of a species is expected to live
Menopause: the end of menstruation and fertility
Aging and intellectual functions
Alzheimer’s disease
-a progressive disorder that strikes older ppl, causing
memory loss and other symptoms
Fluid intelligence: includes inductive reasoning and spatial
ability, ability to reason speedily and abstractly, declines
steadily throughout middle and late adulthood
Crystalized intelligence: includes verbal ability and numeric
ability, one’s accumulated knowledge, skills and ability
Death and dying
Elizabeth kubler-ross 5 stages in approaching death:
1) Denial: shock
2) Anger: release of bottled up emotions
3) Bargaining: seeking in vain for a way out
4) Depression: final realization …
5) Acceptance
personality
Openness
a) Imaginative vs. down-to-earth
b) Preference for variety vs. preference for routine
c) Independent vs. conforming
Conscientiousness
a) Well organized vs. disorganized
b) Careful vs. careless
c) Self-disciplined vs. weak willed
Agreeableness
a) Softhearted vs. Ruthless
b) Trusting vs. suspicious
c) Helpful vs. uncooperative
Neuroticism
a) Worried vs. calm
b) Insecure vs. secure
c) Self-pitying vs. self-satisfied
Extraversion
a) Social vs. retiring
b) Fun-loving vs. sober
c) Affectionate vs. reserved
5 factor
model of
personality
Psychodynamic perspectives
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory
Structure of personality
-ID: pleasure principle
-EGO: reality principle
-Superego: morality
Levels of awareness
-conscious
-unconscious
-preconscious
conflicts
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory
conflict
-sex and aggression
-anxiety
-defense mechanisms
Defense mechanisms
1) reaction formation
2) projection
3) rationalization (intellectualization)
4) displacement
5) sublimation
6) repression
Personality development
Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
genital
Carl Jung : analytical psychology
1. Personal and collective unconscious
2. Archetypes
3. Introversion/ extroversion
Alfred Adler: individual psychology
1. Striving for supierioty
2. Compensation
3. Birth order
Evaluating psychodynamic
perspectives
Pros:
1. The unconscious
2. The role of internal conflict
3. The importance of early childhood
Cons
1. Poor testability
2. Inadequate empiric
3. Sexist views