PSY 3122 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sexual Orientation, Natural Selection, Heteronormativity

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3122
• Professor: Krystelle Shaughnessy

Document Summary

What is theory: definition: a set of ideas or concepts used to explain and predict phenomenon, scientific theory, tested, can be refuted, never really proven but can be disproven. Why learn about scientific theories: how perspectives influence, organize, generate, self-correct: can take information from what we have learned to change the theory to make sure it can fit with what is happening, communicate, guide research. Learning theories (pure learning theory is a learned behaviour: classical conditioning, conditioned stimuli and conditioned responses, operant conditioning, rewards and punishments, social learning theory, observational learning and imitation. If the behaviour is increasing your looking at a positive reinforcement. If the behaviour is decreasing your looking at a negative reinforcement. Is slapped on nose --> does not bark again next time: adolescent fumbles, dam gets in the way, partner says not pleasurable --> throws the idea out the window.