John Dollard & Neal Miller 1900 –

Background Dollard: –Interest in actual human social conditions Miller –Work contributed to biofeedback and how autonomic nervous system can be influenced by operant conditioning –Studied learning theory

Background Together: –Believed the two best sources of information about the normal human personality are the rat and neurotic humans who seek professional help. –Did a lot of work on frustration and aggression –Sought to translate Freud’s theory into concepts of learning theory and make his claims testable –Their work is often seen as representing the transition from radical behaviorism to cognitive psychology

Hull Drive reduction theory of learning –Habit is the association between a stimulus and a response If a stimulus (S) leads to a response (R), which in turn produces a reinforcer, the association between the stimulus and response becomes stronger. (The habit of performing that response in the presence of the stimulus becomes stronger) –Referred to as S-R theory

Theory Four concepts of learning: –Drive: Wanting something Stimulus that energizes behavior –The stronger the stimulus, the stronger the drive Internal, external, primary, and secondary –Primary drives at the building blocks of personality –All acquired (secondary) drives ultimately depend on primary drives

Theory Four concepts of learning: –Cues: Noticing Something Guides behavior Determine when we will respond, where we will respond, and which response we will make –End of shift whistle –Restraunt sign –Traffic light

Theory Four concepts of learning: –Response: Doing Something Reduce or eliminate drive Elicited by the drives and cues present

Theory Four concepts of learning: –Reward or Reinforcement: Getting Something Any stimulus that causes drive reduction Hunger -> Restraunt sign -> Go into restraunt -> Eat Drive Cue Response Drive reduction

Theory Four concepts of learning: –Response hierarchy Initial hierarchy of response –Highest probable response (dominant response) to least probable –If drives are satisfied with dominant response, no learning occurs »learning dilemma –When new hierarchy is formed (resultant hierarchy of response), learning occurs

4 Critical Training Periods of Children Feeding –The conditions under which the hunger drive is satisfied will be learned and generalized into personality attributes Child left hungry will stop crying and possibly become apathetic, apprehensive, or fear being alone Child fed develops love for mother and a sociable personality

4 Critical Training Periods of Children Cleanliness Training –Parental response is critical Child may have difficulty distinquishing between disapproval of what they have done with disapproval of them personally

4 Critical Training Periods of Children Early Sex Training –Punishment for masturbation (bed wetting or intentional) May develop avoidance behaviors if overemphasized –Fear of authority figures

4 Critical Training Periods of Children Anger – Anxiety Conflicts –Children must learn to deal with anger Can be healthy in that self control can be gained Can be unhealthy in that it can remove appropriate assertive behavior.