Question

In a minimum of 300 words, explain how classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and cognitive-social learning all contribute to prejudice.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Classical Conditioning – Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning would involve creating either a positive or negative reinforcement over a period of time. The goal would be to create a trigger in the sub-conscious mind of the individual to adapt to certain behavioural patterns as desired.

Operant Conditioning – While classical conditioning encourages reflexive behaviour, operant conditioning is behaviour that is calibrated by reward or punishment. Basically, this is behaviour that is reinforced by the consequence as opposed to a trigger like in classical conditioning.

Cognitive-social learning theory – This theory is a bridge between behaviourist theories and cognitive learning. Bandura suggests through this theory that individuals learn from social interactions, through imitation, observation and even modelling from each other’s behaviour.

All of these three theories involve behaviour based on retrieval through the semantic memory. Or rather the memory that comes from the information that we have stored in our brains throughout our lives. In order to avoid being prejudice, it is essential that one should not build any preconceived notions, bias or formulate any opinions from existing. A lack of prejudice involves keeping an open mind and not being conditioned to society’s reactions. For instance, if an individual is conditioned to think that women drivers are not as good as male drivers, it would be a kind of prejudice. However, if society’s conditioning is to be ignored, the woman driver’s ability would be judged based on their ability and not their gender.