Personal Narrative-Social Learning Theory
Learning Experience Paper
Bernard T. Mitchell II
[UoP] PSY/103
July 27, 2015
Wanda Rush
Learning Experience Paper
In this paper, I will discuss my learning experiences and analyze them with the perspective of learning theories. I will analyze my learning experiences concerning classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive- social learning theory.
First of all, I would begin by describing my experience of learning to fear darkness with regards to classical conditioning. To give some insight into the situation, I was never afraid of darkness until I had combat experience serving in Iraq & Afghanistan. I strongly believe that my fear of darkness can be explained using Pavlov 's "classical conditioning". According to (Carpenter, …show more content…
While out on a patrol mission, we were ambushed and I heard heavy RPG and machine gun fire from all directions along with the agony of injured Marines in the middle of the night; infusing a fear inside of me not knowing if I would be next. The conditioning happened as follows: Initially, there was quietness and darkness all around with everyone in perfect health until chaos was stirred up. With darkness and smoke all around, I felt completely trapped with no way out to maneuver. Nevertheless, the screams of pain and agony in the darkness scared me; eventually, I developed the fear of darkness because most attacks happened during this period. Since then, I had learned to associate darkness with loud screams and entrapment hence developed a fear of darkness. Therefore, I believe I have been conditioned to fear darkness. I believe the unconditioned stimulus is the darkness, the unconditioned response (fear), the conditioned stimulus (screams/entrapment), and the conditioned response (fear of …show more content…
When I was a kid, including the kids today, we spent plenty of time in front of the TV 's and computers ( internet, video games); allowing us to be more accessible to experience adult material such as foul language, violence, kissing, etc. sooner than our parents’ generation. However, assuming we have encountered these adult materials sooner in their lives, understanding it also has implications on our social behavior; desensitization of violence; rape; shootings and so on. Keeping in mind, perception and prejudice also plays an important role in learning. For example, teenagers who are stereotyped as misbehaving, violent, and arrogant are open to the harsh reality that our society will view them stereotypically. Therefore, the teenagers are going to learn that such an egotistical behavior is probably how they should be, even if they are not. Eventually, they will learn to behave in such arrogant ways so that they can fit into the stereotypical picture that has been presented by the media and the
Bernard T. Mitchell II
[UoP] PSY/103
July 27, 2015
Wanda Rush
Learning Experience Paper
In this paper, I will discuss my learning experiences and analyze them with the perspective of learning theories. I will analyze my learning experiences concerning classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive- social learning theory.
First of all, I would begin by describing my experience of learning to fear darkness with regards to classical conditioning. To give some insight into the situation, I was never afraid of darkness until I had combat experience serving in Iraq & Afghanistan. I strongly believe that my fear of darkness can be explained using Pavlov 's "classical conditioning". According to (Carpenter, …show more content…
While out on a patrol mission, we were ambushed and I heard heavy RPG and machine gun fire from all directions along with the agony of injured Marines in the middle of the night; infusing a fear inside of me not knowing if I would be next. The conditioning happened as follows: Initially, there was quietness and darkness all around with everyone in perfect health until chaos was stirred up. With darkness and smoke all around, I felt completely trapped with no way out to maneuver. Nevertheless, the screams of pain and agony in the darkness scared me; eventually, I developed the fear of darkness because most attacks happened during this period. Since then, I had learned to associate darkness with loud screams and entrapment hence developed a fear of darkness. Therefore, I believe I have been conditioned to fear darkness. I believe the unconditioned stimulus is the darkness, the unconditioned response (fear), the conditioned stimulus (screams/entrapment), and the conditioned response (fear of …show more content…
When I was a kid, including the kids today, we spent plenty of time in front of the TV 's and computers ( internet, video games); allowing us to be more accessible to experience adult material such as foul language, violence, kissing, etc. sooner than our parents’ generation. However, assuming we have encountered these adult materials sooner in their lives, understanding it also has implications on our social behavior; desensitization of violence; rape; shootings and so on. Keeping in mind, perception and prejudice also plays an important role in learning. For example, teenagers who are stereotyped as misbehaving, violent, and arrogant are open to the harsh reality that our society will view them stereotypically. Therefore, the teenagers are going to learn that such an egotistical behavior is probably how they should be, even if they are not. Eventually, they will learn to behave in such arrogant ways so that they can fit into the stereotypical picture that has been presented by the media and the