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A Cumulative Model for Understanding Behavior

O pp or tun ity

C og n it iv e R e aso n ing

S itua tio na l Fa cto rs

L e arn in g In flue nces

P hys io log ica l In flue nces

G e ne tic In flu e nces

Personal Tendency Toward Behavior

Situational Tendency Toward Behavior

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Genetics 90% of height 70% of major depression 60% of intelligence 50% of smoking 40% of personality 40% of job satisfaction 50% of criminality 50% of aggression Many mental health problems

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Physiological Influences

Head injuries and brain abnormalities

Neurotransmitters Hormones Arousal levels Diet Physical

appearance Illness and disability

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Physical Appearance Infancy

attractive babies are held, cuddled, and kissed more Attractive Children

have more friends are seen by teachers as being smarter are disciplined less often

Adolescence attractive teens have more dates

Attractive Adults receive higher interview scores receive higher performance appraisal scores are sent to jail less often are committed to mental health facilities less often receive more help in emergencies

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Physical Attractiveness and Crime Masters and Graves (1967)

60% of criminals have facial defects

20% of controls Thompson (1990)

Reviewed 9 studies and found that in 6, recidivism decreased after plastic surgery

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Learning History Types of Learning

Social learning Operant conditioning

We Learn Consequences How to be reinforced Anger and resentment Social needs and skills Attachment to the community Coping skills

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Learning Influences Developmental era Where we were raised Family Friends School and church Gender, race, and

culture Significant emotional

events

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Developmental Era

Decade Important Event Characteristics 1980s Drugs, video games, videos,

computers, car phones, faxBored, smart,conservative,individualistic

1970s Watergate, travel Distrust, urbane

1960s Drugs, civil rights, Vietnam Spoiled, unrealistic,assertive

1950s TV, economic boom Questioning

1940s World War II Angry, confused

1930s Depression Frugal, security

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Birth Order Only child

higher intelligence more independent

First born achievement oriented conservative

Middle born outgoing good social skills

Youngest creative rebels

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Demographics

Gender Race National origin Religion Disability Age

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Television and the Media

We watch five hours of TV per day 8 of 10 shows contain violence Cartoons have 18 acts of violence per

hour Romance and sex Exposure to tragedy

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When is Our Personality Set?

Birth Freud Massey Never Significant

emotional events

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Situational Factors Environmental stress

frustration heat, noise, darkness,

crowding

Behavior of others Time and resource

limitations Competing values Availability of alternatives

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Cognitive Reasoning Expectancy theory

Expectancy Instrumentality Valence

Reasoning is affected by Alcohol and drugs Anger Stress Emotion Intelligence Knowledge/experience

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Opportunity

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Personality Characteristics

Personality Type Characteristics

Thinker creative, inquisitive

Director competitive, independent

Communicator friendly, outgoing

Soother calm, loyal, helpful

Organizer organized, detailed

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Communication Styles

Personality Speaking style Listens for

Thinker ideas ideas

Director direct main point

Communicator stories/jokes fun, humor

Soother calm, never critical feelings

Organizer facts, details facts, details