Running head : LEARNED HELPLESSNESS Learned Helplessness Name :Course :Instructor :University :Date Abstract Learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon that was discovered by Seligman and others during their experiments with animals . They observed that it is possible for both animals as well as humans to develop helplessness if subjected to seemingly inescapable and negative circumstances . This helplessness would persist even when the circumstances change and the animal or human were able to liberate themselves . This theory has found wide application in psychology . This paper delves into the theory and examines its origin , and its applications .Introduction :Learned helplessness is a psychological , behavioral and cognitive deficit theory that seeks to explain a condition in which humans or animals have preconditioned their minds to believe that they are helpless in specific instances and situations .
Harlow’s experiment i Attachment in Rhesus Monkeys Harlow’s experiment ii Abstract In the past 30 years, the work of Harry Harlow using rhesus monkeys while researching learning was criticized for the cruelty imposed onto animals. He noticed that many young monkeys kept in isolation became distressed when he cleaned out their cages. From there, he went onto researching attachment issues, providing the baby monkeys with surrogate mothers and observing their behavior. While most agree that he contributed to the science of early bonding and perhaps the keys to love, criticism revolves around the issue of using animals for research. This paper examines Harlow’s life and his advances in early development research.
Second is Pavlov who used research dogs to base classical conditioning of the behaviorist theory (Friedman, 2010). And lastly is Sigmund Freud a Psychoanalysis theorist who made a behavior theory off of the ego, super ego and self-defense (Carlson, 2007). 4. Describe the relationship between biological psychology and other fields in psychology and neuroscience. The relationship between biological psychology and neuroscience as well as other fields of psychology, by putting them together we are able to come to a better concept of the process of the mental process.
Personality psychologists claimed that one of the most profound challenges is to account for personality development, that’s why they put this into a study whether an individual’s behavior are caused by heredity or the environment, this study is known as the “nature” and “nurture”. First, the nature suggests that human behavior is driven mostly by biology (evolution, genetics, brain chemistry, and hormones). In contrast, the nurture suggests that behavior is driven mostly by psychosocial environment (for example, how we were raised, our peers, the situations we are in at present). Both nature and nurture contribute to who an individual is, but to better comprehend the nature versus nurture debate, we should look at the essential characteristics that make up this controversy. Humans are unique and highly-intricate creatures.
Our environment shapes how our genes affect us though. Genes work in mysterious ways and we may not enjoy what the give to us. Good or bad, genes are what turn on nurture so our environment can shape who we are, how we behave, and possibly who we love. Ridley certainly backs his theories with much evidence and this book strongly displays his opinion of how nature brings about nurture. From the text, I gathered that Ridley wrote The Agile Gene from a biological perspective of psychology.
Discuss and evaluate evolutionary explanations of aggression. Evolutionary psychologist pointed out to understand the way we behave we need to look at the evolution of the brain as a means to explain aggression, knowing the evolution it could explain present –day aggression. Such psychologists consider animal and human research to support their claims. Firstly, in animals it was Craig (1921) who had the first attempt in understanding aggression in referring to Darwin’s late work with the statement ‘when animals fight their aims are to get rid of the animals presence not to destroy it’. Therefore, animals don’t necessarily want o kill the potential threat but instead for them to back down or submit only using physical force when necessary.
Nature Vs Nurture Essay The debate between nature versus nurture has been argued for centuries. Some scientists think that people behave as they do according to genetic tendency or even animal instincts. This is the nature theory of human behavior. The Nature Theory believes that traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression, and sexual orientation are encoded in DNA, much like eye and hair color. While other scientists believe that, people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so.
Behaviourists explain maladaptive behaviour in terms of the learning principles that sustain and maintain it. Discuss this statement and show how a behaviourists approach to therapy is in stark contrast to psychoanalytic one. INTRODUCTION Behavioural psychology, also known as behaviourism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviourism, behaviour can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental processes.
Are we programmed to care primarily for self, relatives and survival or to sacrifice for the strength of survival of our “group?” This question can be dated back to as early as Charles Darwin, August Comte and Richard Dawkins. Grossman adds that Richard Dawkins believed that people of evolution are the selfish ones and that altruism must be taught. This is saying that we as humans are born into a word of greed and deceit, but must learn to share and unite with others. Although both sides are argued throughout the article, it is not known which side is correct and the question will still continue to be a subject of numerous scientists and psychologists over the
Foundations of Psychology Greg Ustel 01/12/2014 PSY/300 ANGELIQUE GRADY Behavioral Approach to Psychology Behaviorism is a concept of psychology that is centered on learning Ivan Pavlov was one of the first know scholars to establish behavior studies on animals. He claimed that behavior was the most valid source of information because mental events cannot be observed (Sullivan Ed. 2009). The three basic functions of behaviorism are reward, punishment, and reinforcement. This type of behavior has been used to study animals and humans alike.