15 Questions
What is the primary focus of the field of epigenetics?
How environmental factors change gene expression
According to the behavioral perspective, what is the primary shaper of personality?
Interaction with the environment
What is the term for the process of associating two unrelated stimuli, as demonstrated in Pavlov's dog experiment?
Classical conditioning
What is the interactions between an individual and their environment, including relationships and culture, referred to as?
Nurture
According to the content, what is the term for the type of conditioning where behavior is modified by its consequences?
Operant conditioning
What is the main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
Classical conditioning involves association of stimuli, while operant conditioning involves rewards and punishment.
What was the outcome of John B. Watson's experiment with Little Albert?
Little Albert became conditioned to fear all white objects.
What is the name of the laboratory device used by B.F. Skinner to study operant conditioning?
Skinner's Box
What is the main idea behind B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning?
Behavior is modified by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
What was the outcome of B.F. Skinner's experiment with pigeons?
Pigeons learned to play ping-pong.
What is the primary goal of reinforcement in behavioral psychology?
To increase a behavior
What is an example of negative punishment?
Removing a privilege for misbehaving
Which of the following is NOT a limitation of the behavioral perspective in personality psychology?
It is not applicable in real-life situations
What is the main difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?
One adds a stimulus, while the other removes a stimulus
What is the primary focus of the behavioral perspective in personality psychology?
Changing behavior through reinforcement and punishment
Study Notes
Nature and Nurture
- Nature refers to the traits we are born with, inherited from our parents, including physical characteristics, behavior, and health.
- Examples of nature include eye color, height, and intelligence.
- Studies on twins raised separately show that genetics play a significant role in shaping who we are.
Nurture
- Nurture involves environmental factors that influence us after birth, including upbringing, relationships, and culture.
- Examples of nurture include language, education, and personality.
- Children adopted into a family often show differences similar to their adoptive family, demonstrating the power of nurture.
Interaction between Nature and Nurture
- Epigenetics studies how environmental factors can change how our genes work without changing the DNA itself.
- Developmental psychology suggests that our genetic makeup and environment work together, influencing each other and shaping who we become.
Behavioral Perspective of Personality
- The behavioral perspective believes that personality is a result of an individual's interaction with their environment.
- Psychologists can pinpoint incidents and behaviors to predict how a person's personality was shaped.
- This perspective focuses on two types of conditioning: classical and operant conditioning.
Classical Conditioning
- Classical conditioning is a process that associates two unrelated stimuli to create a response.
- Ivan Pavlov's famous experiment demonstrated classical conditioning, where dogs salivated at the sound of a metronome after associating it with food.
- John Watson's "Little Albert" study showed that a fear response can be classically conditioned in humans.
Operant Conditioning
- Operant conditioning uses rewards and punishment to shape behavior.
- This type of conditioning helps predict how someone will behave based on the consequences of their actions.
- B.F. Skinner is known for his work on operant conditioning, including his invention of the "Skinner box."
- Skinner's work demonstrated that people can be conditioned to behave in certain ways based on rewards and punishment.
Types of Operant Conditioning
- Positive Reinforcement: adding a stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., giving a rat a food pellet for pushing a lever).
- Negative Reinforcement: removing a stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., stopping a shock when a rat pushes a lever).
- Positive Punishment: adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., smacking a dog for barking).
- Negative Punishment: removing a stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., ignoring a barking dog).
Limitations of Behavioral Perspective
- Behavioral perspective is limited in explaining the overall psychology of personality, as it doesn't consider thoughts, feelings, and motivations behind behaviors.
- It only looks at observable behaviors and consequences, ignoring the complexity of human psychology.
Learn about the debate between nature and nurture, and how they influence our traits, behaviors, and intelligence. Discover the role of genetics and environmental factors in shaping who we are.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
