Exploring Theories and Concepts Flashcards

Bandura's social learning theory emphasizes which process as critical for learning without direct reinforcement?

Answer: Observational learning

Bandura showed that people can learn by observing and imitating others, a process called observational (or vicarious) learning.

The 'Oedipus complex,' according to Freudian theory, occurs during which psychosexual stage?

Answer: Phallic stage

Freud proposed the Oedipus complex arises during the phallic stage (ages 3–6), when children develop unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent.

In social psychology, 'deindividuation' refers to:

Answer: Loss of self-awareness and restraint in groups or crowds

Deindividuation occurs when being part of a large group reduces personal identity and accountability, often leading to impulsive behavior.

Which theoretical framework views the mind as an information-processing system analogous to a computer?

Answer: Cognitive psychology

Cognitive psychology compares human thought to computer processing, focusing on how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved.

According to Bowlby's attachment theory, 'secure attachment' in infancy is associated with:

Answer: A caregiver who is reliably responsive and sensitive

Bowlby and Ainsworth found that caregivers who respond consistently and sensitively foster secure attachment in infants.

The concept of 'self-efficacy,' developed by Albert Bandura, refers to:

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations

Self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific outcomes in a particular context.

In Gestalt psychology, the principle of 'closure' refers to the tendency to:

Answer: Complete incomplete figures to perceive a whole

The Gestalt principle of closure describes how the mind fills in missing information to perceive a complete, unified figure.