1. Personality
Explained Through Behaviorism

2. Behaviorism
Behavioral Psychology is a branch of psychology that is based on the idea that every action that an organism performs -- including moving, thinking, and feeling-- can be observed and studied based on physical behavior.

3. Criticisms of Behaviorism
Many critics argue that behaviorism is a one-dimensional approach to behavior because it does not account for other types of learning different than conditioning. (Learning that takes place exclusive of reinforcers or punishers.)
Some people claim that behaviorist views do not account for moods, thoughts, and feelings.
Factors beyond a stimulus are involved in a response and because of this a more complete comprehension of behavior would need to further include the inner mind.
Some dispute the statement that behaviorists make about conditioning being universal.

4. B. F. Skinner
Burrhus Frederic Skinner was one of the most influential behavioral psychologists. He developed the theory of operant conditioning, in which behavior can be learned through either reinforcement or punishment.
In order to have animals respond only to the controlled conditions, Skinner invented the “Skinner Box”, which isolated specimens from all distractions that may affect results.

5. John Watson
John B. Watson has often been referred to as “the Father of Behaviorism”. Watson proposed that psychology had nothing to do with the human mind or consciousness, instead, psychology should only used to study behavior.
DeMar, 1989

6. Little Albert Experiment
- Watson’s most famous behavioral experiment
- Watson trained eleven month old “Albert” to be afraid of a white rat by using loud noise every time Albert saw the rat
- Albert was now permanently afraid of the rat, even without the noise

7. Albert Bandura
Albert Bandura is a behavioral psychologist, specializing in the theory of self efficacy and social cognitive theory.
Bandura developed Social Learning Theory.

8. Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory is learning based within a social context. It concludes that people learn from other human beings, and it includes such topics as observational learning, imitation, and modeling.

9. General Principles of Social Learning Theory
-People can learn by observing the behavior of others and they can interpret the outcomes of those behaviors as they wish.
The social learning theory states that because people have the ability to learn through observation, their learning may not necessarily ever be shown. Therefore, learning may or may not result in a behavior change.
- Cognition plays a role in learning. Awareness of future reinforcements or punishments can have a huge effect on the behaviors that people show.

10. How Social Learning Theory connects to Self-Efficacy and Behavior
Joy of activities: people tend to choose activities they feel they will be successful and happy in doing them.
Effort and persistence: people generally put more effort in activities and behaviors that they consider to be successful in pursuing.
Learning and achievement: students with high self-efficacy tendencies tend to be better students and be better achievers.

11. Bobo Never Hurt Anybody
Bandura hoped to prove that
acts of aggression were influenced by behavior that the children observed others doing.
- Some children observed adults attacking Bobo
- Some children were not put in situations where Bobo was attacked
- When left alone, the children that observed the attack began to attack Bobo.

12. Walter Mischel Walter Mischel is a personality
psychologist that helped prove
“deferred gratification” with his
Marshmallow experiment.
Deferred Gratification - Ones ability
to practice self control and resist
temptation in order to obtain a much
more desired prize.

13. Mischel’s Marshmallows
According to a New York Times article that covered the original experiment, data showed that the children that were able to wait longer had greater success in life as adults.
LEHRER, 2009
EATMEDAILY.COM

14. Learning
Behavior theorists define learning as the acquisition of new behavior based on environmental conditions; hence, behaviorism defines conditioning as the universal process of learning.
All behavior can be explained without the need to consider internal mental states
or consciousness because
behavior is caused by external
stimuli.

15. Environment
One’s environment is anything influential that is not genetic.
This can include everything from nutrition to the people around us.
MYERS, 2007

16. Self-regulation is one’s ability to alter
Self-regulated
Self-regulation is one’s ability to alter
or change his or her behaviors.
PERRY

17. Reciprocal Determinism
Argued by Albert Bandura
Although our behavior is largely shaped by our environment, our behavior can affect the environment, which in turn can affect our cognitions, which in turn affects our behavior…..   

18. Different people choose different environments
We choose to befriend different people, listen to different music, be involved in different activities, etc
Our personalities shape how we interpret and react to events
If someone is generally very nervous, they will perceive events as being more threatening than they are
Our personalities help create situations that we react to
If someone is a supportive, positive person, they will most likely have close friendships

19. Locus of Control
Our sense of personal control - whether we feel as though we control, or are controlled by, our environment

20. External locus of control : the perception that chance or outside forces beyond one’s personal control determine one’s own fate
Internal locus of control: the perception that one controls one’s own fate through their actions and behaviors.

21. Many studies have shown that people with an internal locus of control achieve more in school, act more independently, enjoy better health, and feel less depressed that those with an external locus of control.

22. Learned Helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated traumatic events.
Uncontrollable bad events  perceived lack of control  generalized helpless behavior
Seligman's Theory
originally applied to dogs tested in a shuttle box with a divider separating two sides. Dogs who were shocked on one side eventually jumped over to the other, and, finding that they were not shocked there, learned the jumping response. However, dogs who were initially shocked uncontrollably failed to learn the jumping response.
bears much in common with depression in humans.

23. Culture Shock
You don’t know how people will respond to you
Lessened sense of control
Illustrates importance of giving people in prisons, nursing homes, monotonous jobs opportunities to make decisions for themselves
Increases morale and happiness, decreases stress
Implies that when people have personal freedom and feel empowered, they thrive.

24. Tyranny of Choice
But on the flip side, tyranny of choice can work counter to personal control.
When people have too many choices, they are faced with an information overload and there is a greater likelihood they will feel regret over the options they did not choose.
Deciding what college to go to

25. Observational Learning
Also known as the social learning theory
When the observer’s behavior changes after watching the behavior of the model
Observer will only imitate the model’s behavior if the model possesses characteristics the observer finds attractive
Observer is more likely to imitate the model if the model’s behavior is rewarded

26. Observational Learning Cont.
There are four processes involved in observational learning.
Attention: the observer cannot learn unless he is paying attention to what is around him.
Retention: observer must remember the behavior later.
Production: observer must be physically and mentally capable of performing the behavior.
Motivation: observer must be motivated to perform the behavior.

27. Criticisms of Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory ignores the individual’s biological state.
Social learning theory rejects genetic and learning differences.

28. Self-Efficacy
People’s beliefs about their capabilities to influence events that affect their lives
Strong sense of self-efficacy increases sense of accomplishment and well-being

29. Self-Efficacy Four sources of self efficacy
mastery experiences: success increases self- efficacy, failure decreases self-efficacy
Social models: if someone of similar to an individual succeeds, the individual is more likely to believe he can succeed as well.
Social persuasion
Reduce stress reactions

30. Bibliography
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Cherry, Kendra. (No Date) What Is Behaviorism? psychology.about.com. Retrieved March 15th, 2010 from
Ormrod, J.E. (1999). Human learning. Retrieved March 17th from
Bandura, A. (n.d.). Self-efficacy defined. Division of Educational Studies, Emory. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Isom, M. D. (n.d.). Albert Bandura. Research Brought To Life : Florida State University College of Criminology & Criminal Justice. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Observational Learning. (n.d.). Funderstanding: Education and Training for Active Learners. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Acton, G. (2005, October). Great Ideas in Personality--Cognitive Social Theories. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Locus of Control - Rotter. (2008, November 17). Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Myers, D. G. (2007). Psychology (8th ed.). New York: Worth.
VerWys, C. (2001, February 22). Albert Bandura ( ). Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Behaviorist Theory. (n.d.). The-Shrink.Info. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from
Cherry, K. (n.d.). Little Albert - The Little Albert Experiment. Psychology - Student Resources - Psychology Articles. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Self-Regulation: The Second Core Strength. (n.d.). Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from
Self-Regulation: The Second Core Strength. (n.d.). Teaching Resources, Children's Book Recommendations, and Student Activities | Scholastic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010, from
theater, s. i., & head, c. o. (n.d.). B. F. Skinner. My Webspace files. Retrieved March 18, 2010, from