Learning
Theories
Skinner: Behavioral Analysis
Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory
Rotter and Mischel: Cognitive Social Learning Theory
Kelly: Psychology of Personal Constructs
MDPearls 1
, Behavioral Analysis
B. F. Skinner
Key Term/s: Determinist
Agreement/ Disagreement with other Theorists:
Skinner recognized the classical Freudian defense mechanisms as effective means of
avoiding pain and its attendant anxiety.
Skinner agreed with Watson that psychology must be confined to a scientific study of
observable phenomena namely behavior
• Behaviorism- (E. L. Thorndike & Watson) emerged from laboratory studies of animals
and humans.
• Behavioral Analysis- Focus almost entirely on observable behavior.
• Radical Behaviorism- A doctrine that avoids all hypothetical constructs, such as ego,
traits, drives, needs, hunger, etc.
• Environmentalist- Held that Psychology must not explain behavior on the basis of the
physiological or constitutional components of the organism but rather on the basis of
environmental stimuli.
• Law of effect- (E. L. Thorndike) principle that responses to stimuli followed immediately
by a satisfier tend to strengthen the connection between those responses and stimuli; that
is, they tend to be learned
• Scientific behaviorism- Holds that behavior can best be studied scientifically without
reference to needs, instincts, or motives
• Cosmology- (note: Skinner is not fond of this) philosophy which concerns causation.
• Classical conditioning- a response drawn out of the organism by a scientific, identifiable
stimulus.
• Operant conditioning- a behavior that is made more likely to recur when iti is
immediately reinforced
MDPearls 2
Theories
Skinner: Behavioral Analysis
Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory
Rotter and Mischel: Cognitive Social Learning Theory
Kelly: Psychology of Personal Constructs
MDPearls 1
, Behavioral Analysis
B. F. Skinner
Key Term/s: Determinist
Agreement/ Disagreement with other Theorists:
Skinner recognized the classical Freudian defense mechanisms as effective means of
avoiding pain and its attendant anxiety.
Skinner agreed with Watson that psychology must be confined to a scientific study of
observable phenomena namely behavior
• Behaviorism- (E. L. Thorndike & Watson) emerged from laboratory studies of animals
and humans.
• Behavioral Analysis- Focus almost entirely on observable behavior.
• Radical Behaviorism- A doctrine that avoids all hypothetical constructs, such as ego,
traits, drives, needs, hunger, etc.
• Environmentalist- Held that Psychology must not explain behavior on the basis of the
physiological or constitutional components of the organism but rather on the basis of
environmental stimuli.
• Law of effect- (E. L. Thorndike) principle that responses to stimuli followed immediately
by a satisfier tend to strengthen the connection between those responses and stimuli; that
is, they tend to be learned
• Scientific behaviorism- Holds that behavior can best be studied scientifically without
reference to needs, instincts, or motives
• Cosmology- (note: Skinner is not fond of this) philosophy which concerns causation.
• Classical conditioning- a response drawn out of the organism by a scientific, identifiable
stimulus.
• Operant conditioning- a behavior that is made more likely to recur when iti is
immediately reinforced
MDPearls 2
