2. History lesson… Early 1900s – John Watson If psychology is a science, we must stop examining mental states!!! Conditioning is the key to understanding human behaviour!
6. Law of effect “…responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation.”
8. Link to personality… How does conditioning relate to individual differences in personality? Personal freedom and dignity are illusions! Happiness is a “by-product of operant reinforcement…” Personality is “the end product of our habit system”…the combination of consistent behaviour patterns brought about by our unique histories of conditioning.
10. Reciprocal Determinism There are both internal and external determinants of behaviour. Behaviours, external factors and internal factors, all influence on another BEHAVIOUR EXTERNAL FACTORS INTERNAL FACTORS (rewards/punishments) (beliefs, thoughts)
11. ROTTER TO PREDICT HUMAN BEHAVIOUR, WE MUST CONSIDER FACTORS SUCH AS PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS, EXPECTANCIES AND VALUES ROTTER’S BASIC FORMULA FOR PREDICTING BEHAVIOUR Behaviour Potential (BP) = Expectancy + Reinforcement value
12. BEHAVIOUR POTENTIAL The likelihood of a given behaviour occurring in a particular situation. Dependent on expectancy and reinforcement value.
13. Expectancy “the probability held by the individual that a particular reinforcement will occur as a function of a specific behaviour on his part in a specific situation or situations” The estimated likelihood of being reinforced. Rotter proposes we either believe our actions lead us to reinforcements/punishments or that we will have little effect on the reinforcements and punishments received…(LOCUS OF CONTROL)
14. Locus of control A continuum where on one end, people have an extremely internal orientation/locus of control and believe that what happens to them is the results of their own actions. On the other end, are people with an extreme external locus of control, who maintain what happens is the result of forces outside their control.
15. REINFORCEMENT VALUE “The degree of preference for any reinforcement to occur if the possibilities of their occurring were all equal” The value that the reward holds for the individual.
