A PSY 380 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Classical Conditioning, Drive Theory, Homeostasis
1 Sep 2016
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Two major theoretical approaches have been proposed to explain the nature of the learning process. The stimulus- response (s-r) associative theorists advocate a mechanistic view of the learning process. According to this approach, learning occurs when an originally neutral environment stimulus develops the ability to elicit a specific response. In contrast, the cognitive approach assumes that learning involves recognizing when important events are likely to occur and developing an understanding of how to obtain those events. The s-r approach assumes that the stimulus environment controls behavior, while the cognitive approach proposes that mental processes control behavior. Hull theorized that nonspecific intense internal arousal, drive, motivates behavior. Several classes of stimuli are inherently capable of initiating drive, and any stimuli associated with these innate-drive stimuli develop the capability to produce drive through the classical conditioning process. Reward and stimuli associated with reward, is also able to produce arousal and motivate behavior.
