Social Cognitive Theory by Albert Bandura

Social Cognitive Theory

• Developed by psychologist Albert Bandura, emphasizing social influences, observational learning, and self-efficacy in shaping behavior.
• Suggests individuals learn not only through direct experiences but also by observing the actions and outcomes of others, particularly those they perceive as similar to themselves.

Key Concepts

• Observational Learning (Modeling)

  • Individuals learn by observing the behavior of others and the consequences of those behaviors.
  • Involves paying attention to a model's behavior, retaining the observed information in memory, reproducing the behavior when appropriate, and being motivated to imitate the behavior based on reinforcement or punishment.

• Vicarious Reinforcement and Punishment

  • Individuals are more likely to imitate behaviors that are rewarded and less likely to imitate behaviors that are punished when observed in others.
  • Plays a central role in shaping observational learning and behavior.

• Self-Efficacy

  • Refers to individuals' beliefs in their ability to successfully perform a specific behavior or task.
  • Influences behavior through its impact on motivation, effort, persistence, and resilience.
  • Individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to engage in challenging tasks, set ambitious goals, and persevere in the face of obstacles.

• Outcome Expectations

  • Refers to individuals' beliefs about the likely consequences of their actions.
  • Positive outcome expectations increase the likelihood of engaging in a behavior, while negative outcome expectations decrease it.
  • Observing positive outcomes in others can enhance individuals' outcome expectations and motivate them to imitate the behavior.

• Reciprocal Determinism

  • Emphasizes the dynamic interaction between individuals, their behavior, and their environment.
  • Suggests that behavior is influenced by personal factors (such as cognition and affect), environmental factors (such as social norms and physical surroundings), and behavioral factors (such as actions and responses).
  • These factors interact in a continuous feedback loop, shaping individuals' behavior over time.