Weekly Reading Log

As long as I remember, the following books were interesting for me this week.

Observational Learning and Retention Process: Bandura's Model

Observational Learning

              While Skinner insisted that responses must first occur and then be reinforced, Bandura averred that our learning occurred through observation (Frager & Fadiman, 2002). Bandura called this “observational learning.” In a word, this learning process arises when we observe that someone gets rewards for their behavior, and we receive second-hand reinforcement.

Retention Process

              Retention process is one of the key components in observational learning. Unless people remember the objects which they observed, the effect of observational learning decreases. In order to retain our memory, imaginal and verbal systems are crucial in observational learning. Some of our behaviors are retained in imagery. As a famous experiment, children who watched a violent TV became more likely to act aggressively than who were not exposed to violent TV. In fact, there are some critics in this experiment, but visual imagery seems to play an important role in observational learning. Especially, it may have significant influence on infants who don’t develop verbal skills fully yet.

              In addition to imaginal systems, verbal systems are important in observational learning. Bandura (1976) points out: “Most of the cognitive processes that regulate behavior are primarily verbal rather than visual” (p. 26). In this point, Bandura explains that verbal codes convey a great deal of information in an easily stored form. Furthermore, Bandura illustrates: “When people mentally rehearse or actually perform modeled response patterns, they are less likely to forget them than if they neither think about them nor practice what they have seen” (p. 26). This represents our visualization power.  

The Power of Self-Efficacy: Key Points and Practices

              I’d like to recapitulate Bandura’s one interesting concept, “self-efficacy.” Bandura defined self-efficacy as “people’s beliefs in their capabilities to produce desired effects by their own actions” (as cited in Frager & Fadiman, 2002). In cognitive psychology, self-efficacy is regarded as a key factor in our behavior. If we have a strong self-efficacy, we are able to tackle difficulties, perceiving them as challenges in lieu of threats. Furthermore, “a sense of self-efficacy also enhances our physiological response to stress, including strengthening the immune system” (as cited in Frager & Fadiman, 2002). This is a very fascinating point, and self-efficacy contributes to both our mental and physical realms.
Five Key Points (Maddux, "Handbook of Positive Psychology)
1 Successful Performance.
2 Vicarious experiences of success.
3 Internal success images.
4 Verbal persuasion.
5 Physiological and emotional arousal.
Practical Methods (Bandura's model)
1 Provide people with success experiences by setting for them difficult but achievable goals.
2 Observe models performing successfully.
3 Supply verbal encouragement that the person can perform successfully.
4 Use diet, stress reduction, and exercise to control physiological arousal and thus increase stamina,strength, and relaxation under pressure.

Reference

1 Personality and Personal Growth (6th Edition)
2 Handbook of Positive Psychology

Behavioral Control and Functional Analysis in Behaviorism

I picked up the following two key ideas in behaviorism and pointed out the reductionistic aspect.

1 Behavior Control

Whereas many psychologists were interested in predicting human behavior in around 1950’s, Skinner had a strong interest in the control of behavior. To describe Skinner’s point succinctly, he contended that human beings are strongly controlled by the environment, and if we can change the environment, we can control behavior. In my view, if he defines the environment as only an exterior one, his idea is a little bit reductionistic. I admit the impact of the outer world on us, but it is not so easy to control our behavior when we change the only outer environment.   

In terms of Integral Theory which is proposed by Ken Wilber, Wilber (2000) addresses the importance of integral approach. In his theory, not only exterior environment (system, structure, etc.) but also interior environment (culture, shared meaning, shared value, etc.), interior individual aspects (thought, belief, emotion, sensation, etc.), and outer individual aspects (e.g., action, blood pressure, brain state) are also important. In that sense, when we want to change behavior, we need to at least the above four dimensions.

2 Functional Analysis

             Functional analysis deals with our behavior as a “function” of condition which can be described by physical terms. Put it in another way, the main idea of functional analysis is to elucidate the cause and effect of our behavior, and Frager & Fadiman (2002) point out: “Precise descriptions of behavior help us make accurate predictions of future behaviors and improve the analysis of the reinforcements that led to the behavior” (p. 257). However, I refute the assumption that the analysis of current behavior leads to a certain future behavior. I think that we need to consider not only behavioral patterns but also other factors which I mentioned above in terms of Integral Theory to predict a future behavior.

Reference

1 Personality and Personal Growth (6th Edition)
2A Theory of Everything: An Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science, and Spirituality

The Distinct Characteristic of Behavior Therapy

Regarding behavioral transformation and healing model, therapy plays a significant role. In a behaviorists’ perspective, the aim of therapy is not to make clients feel better or be better modified. That is because behaviorists believe that “therapy must try to modify the shape or order of behaviors―that is, prevent undesirable behaviors from recurring and have desirable behaviors occur more often” (Frager & Fadiman, 2002, p. 262).

In other words, behavioral therapists tend to focus on actual behaviors rather than inner states or trauma of clients. Thus, the distinct characteristic of behavior therapy is not to attempt to adjust emotional attitudes in clients but to pinpoint clients’ actual behaviors in order to modify them.     
Reference

Personality and Personal Growth (6th Edition)