A PSY 380 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: John Dewey, Behaviorism

• School: SUNY Albany
• Department: Psychology
• Course: A PSY 380
• Professor: Stephanie Crocco

Document Summary

Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior potential that results from experience. Learning reflects a change in the potential for behavior to occur; it does not automatically lead to a change in behavior. We must be motivated enough to translate learning into behavior. The behavior changes learning causes are not always permanent! As a result of new experiences, previously learned behavior may no longer be exhibited. Changes in behavior can be due to performance processes, such as ambition (motivation) or maturation, rather than learning. Functionalism is an early school of psychology, which emphasized the instinctive origins and adaptive function of behavior. The theory of functionalism is that the function of behavior is to promote survival through adaptive behavior. It may help some people to remember functionalism by telling yourself that. John dewey is known as the father of functionalism.