Behavioral and Social Learning Approaches Personality Assessment
Comparison of behavioral and social learning
According to Dennis and Mitterer (2008), behavioral approach considers personality to be sets of behaviors that are acquired through conditioning and further reinforced through rewards and punishments. While indicating that an individual is initially blank during birth, Shaffer (2008) emphasizes their adaptive nature of acquiring particular personalities through responding to stimulus. Social learning on the other hand indicates that an individuals personality is a resultant factor of their interaction with the environment. According to Feist (2005) people learn and develop their personalities through observing, modeling, imitation, reproduction as well as assessing possible outcomes of their behaviors.
From behavioral and social learning theories, I agree with the consideration that environment is a major facet that dictates personality development especially through conditioning. Besides, it is also true that personality is observed in a reciprocating mode where imitation, modeling, observation as well as reproduction create particular personalities in an individual.
However, I disagree with both theories disregard of an individuals biological considerations in their systems. As evidenced by people who develop various personalities after birth despite being brought up in similar conditions, people have inherent capabilities upon which their personalities are dependent on. In addition to that, I further disagree with the theories failure to appreciate the cognitive capabilities of an individual for effective personality development.
Analysis of my bad habit
Over the years, my brothers have constantly complained of my rush harsh disciplining behavior that often leads to problems with my younger brothers at home. Though I agree that indeed I even do not realize it happen at times, my parents tell me that I am very rush in reprimanding my juniors when they are on the wrong. One particular night when I was doing my homework, I remember slapping my sister for disturbing me an action that has made her remain cold towards me to date.
Though I cannot precisely remember how the behavior developed, it is most probably that I developed it from observing one of my uncles discipline his naughty children in the same manner. Though it is hard to tell whether it was from this harsh disciplining or nor, my uncles children became much disciplined with time, I took it to be the main cause of their positive behavioral change. My uncle was therefore my role model who influenced the habit development. This adoption was further influenced by his children who provided the results of such actions and therefore acted as a key justification for it assimilation.
Why I continue with this habit
As I indicated earlier, I cannot actually tell why I continue with this habit in that I find myself reacting in the same way all the time. Following my initial admiration and consideration of my uncle as a role model, I internalized this behavior and therefore assimilated it to reflect my personality. Indeed, many are the times I have sought to drop the habit, however, it has been very hard. Recently, I met a counselor who indicated that use of effective conditioning could be of great help to me.
Behavioral analysis of my habit
According to behavioral personality theory, development of a behavior is brought either by experience or practice through effective conditioning. During interaction with my uncle, his actions provided the necessary conditioning environment that facilitated my conception that it was indeed the correct method of reprimanding a bad habit. Though in a voluntary mode, my mind came to be convinced that indeed, my uncle could not have bad intentions for his children and therefore the employed method must be both effective and supreme. As Dennis (2005) indicates, repeated punishing of children when they did something wrong culminated to their behavioral change, a factor that I considered to be the best method in facilitating change of a bad behavior or assimilation of a good one.
Components of social learning explaining the formation of the habit
From a social learning point of view, this habit was formed through observation of the manner in which my uncle disciplined his children when they were in the wrong. Besides, I also imitated the actions of my uncle to later fit in my situation. In his view, Feist (2005) argues that social learning theory unlike behavioral learning incorporates the notion of motivation mainly derived from modeling that culminates to effective retention of key factors that were previously observed. Besides, after effective internalization, it was clear that the observed trait was indeed becoming part of my personality and therefore frequently reproduced when I reprimand others.
A plan in applying operant conditioning to change the habit
As indicated earlier, operant conditioning forms one the best mechanism that can be used in changing the different behaviors in the society. I should be subjected to a mechanism that produces much better results compared to my current behavior. A new habit that is associated with better results should be established for me to interact with. Actions by the children should then be linked to the different positive results through the methods employed to address them. With time I would come to associate the different methods of addressing children misbehavior with the expected results from these actions. Notably, this should take time for effective differentiation and therefore avoiding mixing up of the two habits.
Learning theory best describes my personality
My habit can best be described through social learning theories which effectively rhyme with the mode of its acquisition as well as reproduction. By staying together with my uncle, I was subjected to an environment where disciplining of children was viewed to be more effective when harsh methods of reprimanding them were used. As a result, the personality was soon developed based on effective attention, clear retention and subsequent reproduction. Notably, the desire to follow my uncles model was motivational as I had a reason of achieving similar results.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement, effective developments of individuals personalities are dependent on their interaction with the immediate environment and conditioning that provide a platform for a given model of behavior. From behavioral theories point of view, the environment during my interaction with my uncle strongly influenced my habit development. However, from a social learning theory point of view, my habit was derived form strong imitation and intent to achieve similar results. Operant conditioning further came out as a highly viable method in facilitating shift from my habit to a new one.
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