Compare and contrast social exchange theory and operant conditioning
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Social exchange theory proposes that people's feelings about their relationships depends on their perceptions of the rewards and costs of their relationship. In operant conditioning, reinforcements increase the likelihood of responding and punishments decrease the likelihood of responding. Therefore, rewards in relationships are similar to reinforcements. Getting a smile from a partner or a gift is a reward, and it also increases the likelihood of doing the behavior again, so it's reinforcement. However, getting yelled at by a partner or getting "the silent treatment" from a partner decreases the likelihood of doing that behavior again, so is a punishment. One main difference between the two is that social exchange theory has a standard on which partners base their expectations known as the comparison level. This is the minimum acceptable rewards and costs in a relationship.
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A behavioral therapist is explaining the cause of prolonged depression in a client. He is most likely to suggest that his client's state of sadness might be lingering because the individual
a. has not had enough positive reinforcement and has become sad and withdrawn. b. was especially dependent during childhood. c. has a maladaptive explanatory style. d. expresses self-criticism and guilt.
An attitude is more likely to influence a person's behavior if ________
A) an important group the individual identifies with is opposed to the behavior supported by the attitude B) the object of the attitude is relatively trivial or unimportant to the individual C) the behavior supported by the attitude is particularly dramatic or drastic D) the individual has had no prior personal experiences with the object of the attitude E) the object of the attitude has important consequences for the individual