RUNNING HEAD: A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

A Look into Social Behavioral Perspective Sara Bitting Baylor University

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE Social Behavioral Perspective The general idea of this theory states that humans learn behavior through their

interactions with the environment. There are different ways that researchers believe that behavior is learned that will be explained later in the paper. However, there are certain basic characteristics of learning which are: association of environmental stimuli, reinforcement, imitation, and personal expectations, and meaning (Hutchinson, 2011) and are known as the foundation of social behavioral perspective. This helps this perspective to stay consistent and logical through the many different lenses the perspective can look through. Researchers also agree that the human problems that are experienced can be attributed to undesirable behavior and that every single behavioral pattern can be defined, measured, and changed (Hutchinson, 2011). Social behavioral theory receives high marks in its empirical evidence because of this last factor. However, this theory is criticized for its lack of consideration when it comes to cognition and emotion. Spiritual factors, since they can be deemed unmeasurable, are considered irrelevant in this perspective as well (Hutchinson, 2011). In these ways, the social behavioral perspective is seen as dehumanizing. A persons feelings and thoughts can highly contribute to the actions of that person, but this perspective almost entirely negates this concept. Typically, the social behavioral perspective also focuses on one environmental factor to attribute to a behavior and does not look at a combination of possible factors. Modern social behavioral researchers have attempted to broaden their look on the environment, but the foundational patterns are clearly still there (Hutchinson, 2011). Social behavioral theory also does not take into account diversity and the issues of power and oppression. This perspective assumes that the same devices of learning work for all different sorts of groups in the same way (Hutchinson, 2011). However, the truth of the matter is, learning

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE can change for people with disabilities or people within different cultures. Methods of learning have not been proven to be universal. The theory also does not take into account coercion and

oppression that occurs in power relationships in different systems. Operant conditioning, though, does address the issue slightly with the concept of rewards and punishments. If a boss would tell a person to do a task over and over again, the reward is the positive feedback from the superior and the hope for a promotion in the future. However, not all power relationships are healthy and some can be seen to manipulate behaviors, which social behavioral perspective has not been able to explain as well yet. Social behavioral perspective is widely used among social workers, despite the previous critiques, to modify undesirable behavior of individuals (Hutchinson, 2011). For example, this perspective can be used in anger management training, to diminish anxiety symptoms, parent training programs, interpersonal communication in children with autism, and many more such environments. Social Behavioral Perspective Explained There are three main theories guiding the social behavioral perspective. Each theory poses a new way in which learning can occur. The first theory is classical conditioning theory posed by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist (Hutchinson, 2011). This learning pattern begins with a natural behavior, or unconditioned response, and a naturally occurring stimulus, or unconditioned stimulus. For example, as Pavlov used in his experiment, a dog salivating to meat powder. From there, a conditioned stimulus (another item) is paired with the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlovs experiment, the conditioned stimulus was a ringing bell. If done enough times in the right interval of time, the conditioned stimulus will cause the unconditioned response. Pavlovs dogs

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE learned to salivate to the ringing of the bell alone, without the presence of the meat powder (Hutchinson, 2011). This theory can greatly explain addictive patterns. For example, a man might learn to drink every single time he has to make a public speech at work. This can also be used to explain

clinical depression or anxiety disorders; for instance, people might learn to associate bad weather with a bad day. Taste aversions are another avenue of this particular theory. A person might have become sick after eating lemon cake and even though the lemon cake might not be the cause of the sickness, the mind could associate it with that and then that person might wish to avoid lemon cake in the future. The second theory is operant conditioning theory, mainly headed by John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. The concept behind this theory is that behavior is manipulated through rewards and punishments. Behaviors are strengthened when followed by positive consequences and weakened when followed by negative consequences (McSweeney, Hinson, & Cannon, 1996). There are such a thing as negative reinforces, which are the absences of unwanted behavior. For example, a woman is on time to work every day to avoid getting scolded by her boss. The lack of scolding is seen as the negative reinforcer because it is a lack of complaints that reinforces good behavior. Operant and classical conditioning can be seen as very similar and act in a similar way when changing behavior. Both operant and classical conditioning data show that if the reinforcement (or unconditioned stimulus) is delayed, performance is usually disrupted (Dragoi & Staddon, 1999). Usually, with a shorter delay of the reinforcement, the behavior is learned faster.

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE The last main theory that is a part of social behavioral theory is cognitive social learning theory, with Albert Bandura as the key proponent. The concept behind this theory is that behavior is learned through imitation, observation, beliefs, and expectations (Hutchinson, 2011). The other part of the theory is behavior driven by beliefs and expectations. Bandura (1993) coined a term known as self-efficacy, which means ones own sense of intelligence, and efficacy expectation, which is the expectation that one can complete a certain goal. Bandura (1993) believed this concept of efficacy to strongly influence behavior, how people motivate themselves, think, and feel through four processes: cognitive, motivational, affective, and selection processes. Through the idea of selection processes, people have the ability to partially choose the outcome of their life. For example, the higher ones efficacy, the more possible career opportunities one considers having the ability to handle. With the affective process, peoples level of self-efficacy influences the amount of depression and stress they experience in difficult situations and tasks. On the level of motivational processes, people form ideas about what they can and cannot do and anticipate likely outcomes depending on these beliefs. Cognitive processes are similar to motivational processes, but with cognitive processes,

come the idea that, depending on a persons level of self-efficacy, they can perform poorly, even with amazing knowledge and talent, or extraordinary with subpar talent. In this way, efficacy impacts a persons accomplishments the same or more than the level of actual ability. Therefore, with Banduras theory, self-efficacy can extend into almost all aspects of ones life by encouraging or inhibiting behavior. My Understanding of Social Behavioral Perspective The concept of manipulating behavior through a series of different techniques both intrigues me and frightens me at the same time. The social behavioral perspective seems to

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

reduce human life into mere robotic movements. At the same time, I think it is completely true in a way. I think behavior, especially in young children, is extremely malleable when treated with rewards and punishments. There is a small concept I have learned in my social psychology class that says every single deed is selfish. Some researchers believe that there is no true idea of altruism because every human being does every single action for some benefit for themselves (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2010). Even good deeds make a person feel better and can be said to be done for the self-esteem boost. However, I feel like deeds can be done selflessly. An extreme situation would be a man saving a childs life at the risk of his own death. There would be no selfishness in that I dont think. I would like to think this world is based on my selflessness like this, but this theory has definitely made me look at the selfishness of deeds. I am very intrigued by the question of why people do the things they do. I think the social behavioral perspective takes this concept and simplifies it extremely. However, in this way, it can be easier to understand and to study. The theory within this perspective that mostly draws me in is the concept of cognitive social learning. I dont think most of human beings learning comes from modeling and imitation, but I do think that self-efficacy and efficacy expectation play a big role in ones behavior. I think, in order to accomplish certain goals, human beings must first have the mentality and self-esteem to believe they can actually achieve that outcome. Now, when it comes to natural reflexes and such, this plays little role, and classical and operant conditioning come into play more. I think this is why social behavioral perspective is great though because it does cover the foundations for explanations of behavior. The idea of learned helplessness also stands out to me. This concept makes me extremely sad, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Some people are forced to believe they can only get so

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE far in life before failing and remaining stuck. This happens quite often in impoverished households. The children see their parents live without much money and they were raised without money and they begin to believe that its normal. However, the situation is not normal. They do not have to live in poverty because their parents do. I think, though, this is a hard message to convey. Bandura believed, though, this was for persons in non-dominant positions, but I think it can be just about anybody. For instance, a thirty year old drug dealer might truly believe that he is the king of his neighborhood because he is the main source of supply.

However, in a way he also is vulnerable to the concept of learned helpless and more so. The drug dealer will not believe he can climb out of his state of living and nobody will think to help him as much because he is at least somewhat happy. So, he is more vulnerable for abandonment. I do believe, though, a big missing component of this theory is the spiritual factor. I believe if religion plays even a small role in peoples lives it can influence their behavior. A person who reads the Bible might no longer want to curse as much. This behavior is not rewarded or punished necessarily or learned with the use of a conditioned stimulus, but rather, the behavior exists because of he/shes dedication to God. I have believed in the concepts behind social behavioral perspective for a good portion of my life, so I cannot say that much how these theories have changed my view of society. However, any time I read about these theories, I am put in my place a little bit more in understanding other peoples behavior. I understand more that everybody has little habits for a reason and that these habits were probably learned because of something happening in their life. People can have addictions because this is the behavior they learned how to cope with when things were becoming rough. In the back of my mind, I always try to remember this about

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE people, but reading these theories pulls it forward and increases my capacity for understanding and patience.

A LOOK INTO SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE References Aronson, E., Wilson, T.D., & Akert, R.M. (2010) Social psychology (7th ed.) New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Bandura, Albert. (1993). Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 28(2), 117-148. Dragoi, V., & Staddon, J.R. (1999). The dynamics of operant conditioning. Psychological Review, 106(1), 20-61. doi: 10.1037/0033-295X.106.1.20 Hutchinson, E.D. (2011). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment (4th ed.) California: Sage Publications. McSweeney, F.K., Hinson, J.M., & Cannon, C.B. (1996). Sensitization-habituation may occur during operant conditioning. Psychological Bulletin, 120(20), 256-271. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.120.2.256