PSY 181 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Social Learning Theory, Learned Helplessness

• School: University of Rochester
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 181
• Professor: C H R I S T O P H E R N I E M I E C

Document Summary

Cognitive mediation of behavior: stimulus cognitive expectancy response. Expectancy: we never know if our behavior will be reinforced. For reinforcement to evoke behavior, one must expect to receive reinforcement for that behavior. The more we expect that our behavior will lead to reinforcement and the more we value that reinforcement, the more motivation we will have. Internal loc: a belief that your behavior can lead to a desired outcome. There is a contingent association between behavior and the reinforcements in the environment. You perceive yourself as in control of your destiny and you are likely to be motivated. External loc: belief that one"s behavior cannot lead to desired outcomes. Believe that outside forces control their destiny. (fate, chance, luck). You are not likely to be motivatedyou"re likely to be amotivated because no matter what you do, you think you can"t control outcomes. Internal/external loc scale: people with internal loc are happier and act more independently and enjoy better overall health.