PSYC 001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Token Economy, Reinforcement, Mirror Neuron
Document Summary
Animals and humans behave in response to their environments. Behavior can either be external or internal: reflexes- an inevitable, involuntary response to stimuli. Controlled by the nervous system (spinal cord and brainstem) Can be disadvantageous: instincts- inborn pattern of behavior elicited by environmental stimuli, fixed action pattern. Occur in mating and parenting behaviors: learned behaviors- a relatively permanent change in behavior or the capacity for behavior due to experience. William james- humans have more instincts but we are unaware of them. Because we get to choose which to act on, we are seen as more thoughtful in contrast to animals who have less instincts and less to choose from. Cognitive psychologists suggest learned behavior can look automatic and instinctive. Experience has different effects at different times. Main types of learning: associative- the formation of associations or connections among stimuli and behaviors. If a then b, helps us predict the future due to past experiences.
