The Explanations on Human Behavior - Assignment Example

Teacher 31 October 2007 Behavior Explanation Assignment Behavior Observation and Anger is a behavior that can be observed on a daily basis, no matter if it is found at home, in public or on television. One specific anger observation can be made a married couple arguing over household bills. On many occasions my parents will open up the mail, sort through the bills and within a few moments begin arguing with each other over which are more important, which are the fault of the other and ultimately who should pay because they spent money on something else that was unnecessary. The anger resulting from this situation is specifically aimed at the other spouse, however the interjection of myself or anyone else into the conversation (or even trying to speak with one parent immediately after the conversation) means that anger will refocus itself on whomever is speaking. The anger in the second case is non-specific and merely generalized so that nothing can be said or done without a negative comment on the part of the angry parent. Concept Identification There are five different basic research methods in psychology which are used to identify different behaviors and understand them better: case studies, naturalistic observation, correlational research, survey research and experimental methods. Case studies focus on specific cases, for example one person or one family; naturalistic observation relies on the direct observation of subjects in their natural surroundings and dealing with their normal stimuli; survey research is gathered through the completion of carefully crafted questionnaires that are distributed according to the research questions; and experimental methods will vary according to the research questions and possible subject candidates (Davis and Palladino -). Observing the natural way this behavior is cultivated is most helpful in understanding where it originates and how it might be changed. Behavioral Explanation Naturalistic observation can help dissect parental anger over money because unlike any of the other basic research methods it offers a view directly into the repeating situation. It is, in fact, the natural situation itself that results in anger; Naturalistic observation is key to understanding this particular instance of anger because it is only with specific stimuli that this behavior is displayed. As the habit of opening the mail and sorting the bills is replayed over and over, the original anger and regret over not having the money to pay every bill resurfaces. Another factor is the behavior of overspending before it is time to pay bills; only by watching this situation can it be fully understood since no other research method would show every aspect of the anger in detail and allow for researchers to actually see the behavior appear. Student Name Teacher Name Course Title 31 October 2007 Behavior Explanation Assignment #2 Behavior Observation and Description One situation has repeated itself over and over again both in my own life and in that of my friends; we will get invited to a great party that we really want to go to, but don’t have permission from our parents to actually attend. This happens in high school, often in college years and generally can continue until we decide not to live with our parents anymore. The problem is simple, yet the entire situation is always divided into two parts: the joy at being invited and the prospect of attending and having a great time, and the resentment at not being allowed to go or the general unhappiness that results from attending anyway and being grounded afterwards. In most cases, we decide to attend no matter what the consequences, and this means that we spend much of the time at the party feeling nervous and anxious that our parents will find out, or in many cases absolutely certain that our parents already know. Some of us feel guilty, others simply angry at the fact that they fact certain grounding and won’t be able to do anything fun again for a long time. Concept Identification This is what Davis and Palladino describe as an approach-avoidance conflict (-). Such conflicts occur when an individual must face making a decision that involves one seemingly good aspect and one seemingly negative aspect as a result of the first. People are faced with these kinds of decisions every day and unfortunately for all of us there always seems to be some positive situation that subsequently comes with a negative result alongside it. Behavioral Explanation Receiving an invitation to a party that I or my friends really want to attend is a great thing: in the simplest of terms this means we can get ready, go to the party and have fun. Given our lack of complete independence, however, unfortunately our parents still have a say in whether we can go out or not – this means that the invitation is a catalyst for an approach-avoidance conflict within ourselves. While primarily the situation will see an individual approach the positive side (say going to the party), it will, in the end, see that person deal with the negative aspects (grounding or the stress of being found out). It is a two-faced circumstance that does call on the individual to make a real decision concerning the party; what makes the situation even more exasperating is the fact that there are two negative outcomes and only one positive that cannot come on its own: if we skip the party we miss out on the fun; if we go we face our parents afterward. Student Name Teacher Name Course Title 31 October 2007 Behavior Explanation Assignment #3 Behavioral Observation and Description I have observed many people who, although completely capable on their own in achieving various goals, put out no effort at all when they are expected to work within a group. This happens at school constantly: we will be assigned a group and given specific tasks that we need to achieve together, and only one or two of the group members actually puts the work in and completes the assignment. There are certain people who you can always depend on to lead the group and others you can always depend on to sit back and probably not even open their mouths during the entire group assignment. These people aren’t merely content to sit back and not help the rest of the group but they resist contributing even when you come right out and ask them what they think you should be doing, and if they might like to take over a specific role within the assignment. No amount of persuasion will bring these people into the group mentality for the good of completed any task, since they clearly realize that the job will get done without them. Concept Identification Davis and Palladino describe the concept of social loafing as something that occurs within a social group. The concept is used to identify the characteristics of those people who do not contribute to the tasks of the group nor do they appear to actually have any interest in the methods used or the outcome of the exercise (Davis and Palladino -). Social loafers will generally be capable when left on their own, and it is only when placed within a group for the purpose of achieving some goal that they shrink back from responsibility and cease to contribute any thoughts or ideas on the subjects at hand. In a school setting these people are often individualistic in other aspects of their lives and are much less likely to be found in normal social settings than those students who take the lead on group projects. Behavioral Explanation In terms of classroom group projects, students who might be described as loners are often those who do not feel motivated to participate. They are used to a less intense social structure and because of this they are very likely to understand that the other people within their study or research group will do what is necessary to achieve a passing grade. It is in the assumption that other people will do the work for them that social loafers such as those in several of my classes can sit back and do nothing. It is not that they are incapable of grasping the theories or assignments we work with, nor that they are specifically uninterested in the material (although they certainly might be), but more that they understand the social structure of the group is not dependent on them when other personality types are present. Works Cited Davis, S. F. & Palladino, J. J. Psychology (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall ISBN, 2007. Read More