Final answer:
Abnormal behavior is understood to be learned just like normal behaviors, according to the learning approach to psychological disorders. Behaviorists, like B.F. Skinner and Albert Bandura, have contributed to our understanding of how behavior is shaped by learning, reinforcement, cognition, and the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The learning approach to psychological disorders suggests that abnormal behavior is learned just like normal behaviors. This perspective is rooted in behaviorism, a tradition within psychology that emphasizes observable and measurable phenomena, which allows for scientific testing and validation. Unlike the psychodynamic approach, which may involve elements not readily observable, learning approaches consider the role of environmental factors and experiences in shaping behavior. Through reinforcement and punishment, behaviors are learned and can be modified. This is demonstrated by the work of B.F. Skinner, who proposed that our behavior patterns develop through learned response tendencies, which can change across different contexts or life stages.
Albert Bandura's social-cognitive theory is another key aspect of the learning approach, where cognition plays a significant role in behavior development, illustrating the principle of reciprocal determinism. In reciprocal determinism, cognitive processes, behaviors, and contextual factors all interact with each other to influence personality and behavior. Similarly, evolutionary psychology explores the relationship between genetic predispositions and learned behaviors, acknowledging that both innate tendencies and environmental influences contribute to behavior patterns.