Social Learning Theory We learn by observing others (observational learning). Albert Bandura and his Bobo Doll experiments. In Bandura’s study the kids copied the behavior of the adults (beating on the Bobo Dolls). The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior is called modeling. “Vicarious” reinforcement and punishment.
Mirror Neurons Located in frontal lobe next to the motor cortex. Fire during performance AND during observation of another. They provide a neural basis for observational learning.
TV and Observational Learning Watches = Prolonged exposure to violence basically desensitizes viewers to violence. 2/3 of all homes have 3 or more sets and an average 51 hours a week of TV. By the time a child finishes elementary school they have witnessed 8000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on TV. Over half of all deaths do NOT show the victim's pain. As TV watching has grown exponentially, so has violent behavior - a strong positive correlation; BUT it’s not proof that it causes aggression. By the time you are 18, you spend more time in front of TV than in school.
Latent Learning Edward Toleman Three rat experiment. Latent means hidden. Sometimes learning is not immediately evident. Rats learned the maze even when they just wandered around with no reward at the other end. The rats developed a cognitive map (mental representation of the maze).
Insight Learning Wolfgang Kohler and his chimpanzees who learned to use tools. Some animals learn through the “ah ha” experience.
Influences on Learning Biological Social cultural psychological
Biological Genetic predispositions Unconditioned responses Adaptive responses
Social Cultural Culturally learned preferences Motivation, affected by the presence of others https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=CJg2sCgxnyk
Psychological Previous experiences Predictability of associations Generalization discrimination https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=1kqVxgPBIX0
Motivation Intrinsic Motivation: Extrinsic Motivation: A desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake. Extrinsic Motivation: A desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or to avoid threatened punishment
Problem focused coping Attempting to alleviate stress directly – by changing the stressor or the way we interact with the stressor For example, you get into an argument with your boyfriend so you sit and work things out.
Emotion focused coping Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress reaction Or, instead of working things out with your boyfriend you go to your BFF and complain about him.
Learned Helplessness The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
External Locus of Control The perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate
Internal Locus of Control The perception that you control your own fate
Self Control The ability to control impulses and delay short term gratification for greater long term rewards