Question

      2. Describe Random Schedule Intermittent Reinforcement. (1/2 page)

      3. Describe Seligman’s research on Learned Helplessness. (1/2 page)

Answer 1

Ans2 Random Schedule Intermittent reinforcement-

Random Schedule Intermittent reinforcement is a strategy to motivate individuals in which reward or punishment (reinforcement) is not given every time when the desired response is performed by them. This is different from continuous reinforcement. It is commonly used strategy to promote maintenance of behavior change of an individual in same situations. It encourages person to keep pushing until they get what they want without changing behavior. It influences how people think about risks, decisions and rewards. The thing which can avoid intermittent reinforcement is consistency. It is the most powerful motivator tool. It is unpredictable and random. It encourages and maintains hopes of an individual that these efforts are not go in waste and one day something positive will happen definitely.

Gambling is the perfect example of random schedule intermittent reinforcement. In gambling you do not always or every time wins or not even wins every time same amount when using slot machine. This unpredictability can lead to gambling addiction.

Ans3 Seligman’s research on Learned Helplessness-

This concept was discovered by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven F. Maier accidently. They observed helpless behavior in dogs. It shows that when people feel that they have no control over then what happens, they tend to simply give up and accept their fate. Even when opportunities to escape from the situation are present, this learned helplessness will prevent us from taking any action.

This concept when discovered was tied to animals’ psychology and behavior but now psychologists believe that it also applies in many situations to human beings. Learned helplessness has also been associated with several different psychological disorders like depression, phobias, anxiety, loneliness and shyness.

For example- when a child need help no one comes to his or her aid, he or she may be left feeling that nothing he or she can do will change his or her situation. Repeated experiences of this kind of situation the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can result in growing into ultimate feelings after grown up he or she feels that there is no one and nothing can change his or her problems.

Some common symptoms of learned helplessness are-

1. Low self esteem

2. Passivity

3. Lack of motivation

4. Giving up attitude

5. Lack of efforts put on work

6. Frustration

7. Not ask for anyone’s help when needed

Therapy can be effective in reducing symptoms of learned helplessness.

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