Social Cognitive Theory in Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What is the main emphasis of the Social Cognitive approach?

Emphasizing rational thought (correct)

Emphasizing the role of reinforcement in learning

Focusing on non-conscious and automatic processes

Highlighting the role of Pavlovian conditioning

Who is the founder of social cognitive theory?

John Bargh

Anderson

Albert Bandura (correct)

Bushman

What is the core concept of social cognitive theory?

People learn through observation, imitation, and modelling, even in the absence of reinforcement or Pavlovian conditioning (correct)

People learn through imitation, but not observation

People learn through observation, imitation, and reinforcement

People learn through reinforcement, but not observation or imitation

What is the role of self-efficacy in social cognitive theory?

It predicts success on task performance (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is behaviour outcome expectancy?

The expectation that a certain behaviour will lead to a certain outcome (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is required for learning to result in a change in behaviour?

Attention, retention, motivation, and reproduction (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is social cognitive theory a blend of?

Social learning theory and cognitive psychology (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does social cognitive theory focus on?

How individuals perceive, recall, think about and interpret information about themselves and others (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a schema in the context of psychology?

A mental outline or framework of some aspect of experience (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a schema reaches threshold?

It influences thoughts, feelings, and behavior (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primed schema?

A partially activated schema that influences behavior at an implicit level (B) Signup and view all the answers

What components might a schema include?

Knowledge, beliefs, emotions, memories, and links to other concepts (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can be thought of as a group of nodes with associative links in a neural network?

A schema (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the influence of a primed schema on behavior?

Automatic and implicit (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of schemas according to the given information?

To categorise and interpret experiences in a meaningful and efficient way (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the influence of schemas on our experiences?

Generally out of conscious awareness and automatic (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used by Jeffrey Young to describe maladaptive schemas?

Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to Jeffrey Young, what is the primary origin of Early Maladaptive Schemas?

Toxic childhood experiences (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is an Abandonment schema characterised by?

The belief that one’s closest relationships are unstable or unreliable (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a Mistrust/Abuse schema characterised by?

The expectation that others will intentionally hurt, abuse, cheat, humiliate, manipulate, or take advantage (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is an Emotional Deprivation schema characterised by?

The expectation that one’s desires for emotional support will not be met by others (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many types of maladaptive schemas does Jeffrey Young suggest?

Up to 18 types (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emphasizes rational thought, but also investigates non-conscious and automatic processes.
Involves many models, including the General Aggression Model (Anderson and Bushman, 2002).

Founder of social cognitive theory.
Core concept: people can learn through observation, imitation, and modelling, even without reinforcement or Pavlovian conditioning.
Adds a social element to human learning, influenced by factors such as:
- Attention
- Motivation
- Attitudes
- Emotion
Assumes internal mental states are crucial in this process, including:
- Self-efficacy
- Behaviour outcome expectancy
- Self-efficacy expectancy

Self-Efficacy Expectancy

The expectancy that one has the capability to carry out a behaviour to reach a desired outcome.
Predicts:
- Success on task performance
- Attempts to obtain an outcome

Conditions for Learning and Enacting Behaviour

One must:
- Be paying attention
- Be able to retain the information learned
- Be motivated to initiate the seen behaviour
- Reproduce the seen behaviour, practicing it to become more skilled

A blend of social learning theory and cognitive psychology.
Focuses on how individuals perceive, recall, think about, and interpret information about themselves and others.

Nancy Cantor and Self-Understanding

Self-understanding is largely determined by:
- How we conceive ourselves
- How we conceive others
- How we encode social information
- How we interpret social information
- How we remember social information
Accurate and well-organized schemas lead to a more functional person.

Schemas

A mental outline or framework of some aspect of experience based on prior experience or memory
Provides the mental framework through which we see the world and evaluate what is happening
May include knowledge, beliefs, emotions, memories, and links to other concepts, thoughts, feelings, and emotions

Characteristics of Schemas

Influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Can be adaptive, assisting with quickly categorizing and dealing with experiences
Can be maladaptive, biasing the way life events are perceived and prompting inappropriate responses
Influence is generally out of conscious awareness and is usually automatic

Neural Networks and Schemas

A schema can be thought of as a group of nodes with associative links that are so strong that the activation of any node/concept will begin to activate the entire schema network
If enough nodes are activated, the entire schema will 'reach threshold', become fully activated, and influence the person's thoughts, feelings, and behavior
If some nodes are activated, but the schema does not reach threshold, it is said to be primed, influencing behavior at an implicit level

Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs)

Developed by Jeffrey Young as a basis for therapy for personality disorders
Assume that certain childhood experiences bias the way we see ourselves and others, and that these biases continue to be elaborated across the life span
Form part of our stable 'self'

Development of EMSs

Developed out of an interplay between the child's innate temperament and ongoing noxious experiences of the child with parents, siblings, or peers
Toxic childhood experiences are the primary origin of Early Maladaptive Schemas

Examples of EMSs

Abandonment Schemas

Involves the belief that one's closest relationships are unstable or unreliable and thus cannot provide enduring nurturance
Involves the expectation that significant others are likely to leave, either through death or finding another more worthy
Developmental origin: Parent or primary caregiver left the house permanently when child was young, parents withdrew or left child alone for extended periods, etc.

Mistrust/Abuse Schemas

An expectation that others will intentionally (or through unjustified neglect) hurt, abuse, cheat, humiliate, manipulate, or take advantage
Developmental origin: Physical, sexual abuse, childhood experiences of manipulation, humiliation, betrayal, severe punishment, retaliation, or ostracism within own family

Emotional Deprivation Schemas

The expectation that one's desire for a normal degree of emotional support will not be met by others
Developmental origin: Childhood experiences of emotional deprivation, neglect, or abuse

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Description

This quiz covers the social cognitive approach in psychology, its emphasis on rational thought and non-conscious processes, and key models like the General Aggression Model. It also explores the core concept of social cognitive theory, including observational learning and imitation.