Explain How A Personality Develops Through Shaping And Condi ✓ Solved
Explain how a personality develops through shaping and conditioning
For this untimed, open-resource essay exam, answer each question thoroughly and clearly, and ground it in course reading material. Essay answers must be more than 3 or 4 brief sentences, but kept within the bounds of an essay exam (4 - 6 paragraphs). All your writing must be in your own words. Paraphrase (restate what you read) rather than copying material from the course textbook or the Internet. No copying is permitted in this course and doing so will result in zero points on the exam.
Answers must be written in narrative, paragraph form. Lists and/or sentence fragments also will not receive points. Question 1 of 5 20.0 Points Explain how a personality develops through shaping and conditioning. Question 2 of 5 20.0 Points Imagine that TWO of the theorists below were invited to speak at a symposium on personality theory development and are both on the stage. Someone in the audience raises her hand and asks, "So what do you think was your theory's greatest contribution to our current understanding of human personality?" What would each of the theorists you chose say in answer to the question? Choose from among Freud, Jung, Adler, Rogers, and Horney. Question 3 of 5 20.0 Points What did you learn about your own personality from this course. What “spoke” to you…what did you learn about you? This question will be graded as rigorously as the other four on the exam, so be sure to support your answer with reference to the course materials! Question 4 of 5 20.0 Points Consider the implications of psychic determinism and what it means in terms of personality development and manifestation of personality in adulthood. Do you believe that everything you think and do is predetermined by earlier experiences? And what would that mean for your ability to change and grow? Question 5 of 5 20.0 Points Describe Allport’s definition of a mature, adult personality. Allport described the persona as something vital and internal, yet external and false. How can this be?
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The development of personality through shaping and conditioning is rooted in the principles of behavioral psychology. It emphasizes that personality traits and behaviors are acquired through interactions with the environment, specifically through processes such as reinforcement, punishment, and modeling. This essay explores how shaping and conditioning contribute to personality development, drawing from classical and operant conditioning theories, and discusses relevant psychological perspectives.
Role of Shaping and Conditioning in Personality Development
Shaping refers to the process by which individuals acquire new behaviors through reinforcement, gradually guiding their actions toward desired outcomes. For instance, children learn social norms and behaviors by receiving praise or correction from parents and teachers. This continual reinforcement molds their personality traits over time. Conditioning, particularly operant conditioning, reinforces behavior through consequences—rewards for desired behaviors and punishment for undesired ones. This process helps individuals develop consistent patterns of behavior, which are integral aspects of personality.
Classical Conditioning and Personality Formation
Classical conditioning, pioneered by Pavlov, involves associating neutral stimuli with significant events, leading to learned responses. For example, if a child consistently hears praise in the presence of a particular behavior, they may develop a sense of self-worth associated with that behavior. Over time, these conditioned responses influence how individuals perceive themselves and interact with others. Such learned associations contribute to personality traits like confidence or anxiety, depending on the nature of the stimuli and responses involved.
Operant Conditioning and the Development of Personality Traits
Operant conditioning, as described by Skinner, emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. Positive reinforcement encourages repetition of certain behaviors, fostering traits like sociality or assertiveness. Conversely, punishment discourages undesirable behaviors, helping develop traits such as restraint or caution. Through ongoing reinforcement, individuals internalize consistent behavioral patterns, which form the core of their personality. For example, a person who is rewarded for cooperative behavior is likely to develop an agreeable personality trait.
Implications for Personality Change and Growth
Understanding shaping and conditioning highlights that personality is not fixed but can be altered through new experiences and conditioning. Therapeutic interventions often utilize these principles to promote positive change. For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to modify maladaptive behaviors by altering reinforcement patterns. This underscores that, despite the influence of early experiences, individuals have the capacity for growth and personality change throughout life, emphasizing the plasticity of personality development.
Conclusion
In sum, personality development through shaping and conditioning is a dynamic process rooted in environmental influences and learned associations. These mechanisms explain how individuals acquire and maintain consistent behavioral patterns, shaping their personality over time. Recognizing the role of reinforcement and punishment provides valuable insights into potential avenues for personality change and personal growth across the lifespan.
References
- Pavlov, I. P. (1927). Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex. Oxford University Press.
- Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Macmillan.
- Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice-Hall.
- McLeod, S. (2018). Classical conditioning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html
- McLeod, S. (2019). Operant conditioning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html
- Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the behaviorist views it. Psychological Review, 20(2), 158–177.
- Rescorla, R. A., & Wagner, A. R. (1972). A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement. In A. H. Black & W. F. Prokasy (Eds.), Classical conditioning II: The role of expectancy (pp. 64–99). Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action. Prentice-Hall.
- Gopalan, N., & Lefford, J. (2016). Learning theories and behavior change. Journal of Behavioral Science, 12(3), 45-59.
- Reeve, J. (2018). Understanding motivation and emotion. Wiley Blackwell.