Chapter 17- Bandura

Question 1

How did Bandura believe most people learned?

Answer 1

Through observation

Question 2

What is the core of observational learning?

Answer 2

Modeling- adding and subtracting to the behavior being observed (so not just mimicry)

Question 3

What 3 factors influence modeling?

Answer 3

1. The characteristics of the model
2. The characteristics of the observer
3. The consequences of the behavior

Question 4

What 4 processes govern observational learning?

Answer 4

1. Attention (paying attention to the model)
2. Representation (symbolically representing new patterns in memory)
3. Behavioral Production (producing the behavior we observed)
4. Motivation (the observer must be motivated to perform the observed behavior)

Question 5

What functions do consequences serve on behavior?

Answer 5

1. They inform us of the effects of our actions
2. They motivate our anticipatory behavior
3. The reinforce behavior

Question 6

Describe the theory of Triadic Reciprocal Causation

Answer 6

Human action is a result of an interaction among 3 variables- environment, behavior, and person/cognition

Question 7

Which of the 3 reciprocal factors is the strongest contributor to performance? Describe it. (Triadic Reciprocal Causation)

Answer 7

Person/Cognition- The person, this includes things like gender, social position, size, attractiveness, but especially their cognitive factors such as thought, memory, judgement, etc.

Question 8

What is human agency?

Answer 8

The essence of humanness; the power of a human to influence their own actions to get the desired outcome

Question 9

What are the 4 core features of human agency?

Answer 9

1. Intentionality- acts a person performs intentionally
2. Forethought- ability to set goals and anticipate likely outcomes of actions
3. Self-Reactiveness- Monitoring their progress toward fulfilling their choices
4. Self-Reflectiveness- People evaluate their motives, values, and life goals

Question 10

What is the most crucial self-reflective mechanism?

Answer 10

Self-efficacy: a persons beliefs that they are capable of performing actions that will produce a desired result

Question 11

What contributes to self-efficacy?

Answer 11

1. Mastery experiences- successful performances raise SE, failure lowers it
2. Social modeling/Vicarious experiences- SE is raised when we see someone similar to us do something
3. Social Persuasion- listening to a trusted person/authority figure that you can do something
4. Physical and emotional states- when you’re sad you think you can’t do things

Question 12

Aside from self-efficacy, what are two other modes of human agency/ how ppl exercise control of their lives?

Answer 12

Proxy Agency and Collective Efficacy

Question 13

What is proxy agency?

Answer 13

Indirect control over social conditions that affect everyday living/accomplishing goals by relying on others

ex. knowing you can hire a plumber to fix your pipes

Question 14

What is collective efficacy?

Answer 14

The confidence people have that their combined efforts will bring about group accomplishments

Question 15

What 4 factors can lower collective-efficacy?

Answer 15

1. Events in other parts of the world can leave people with a sense of helplessness
2. Complex technology can decrease people’s perceptions of control over their environment
3. Complex bureaucracy that prevents social change discourage people from attempting change
4. The size and scope of worldwide problems (war, famine, etc) can make people feel powerless

Question 16

People high in all 3 efficacy’s are what?

Answer 16

• Mentally healthy
• High in self regulation &
• Tension seeking- they work to get to where they want to be and once they get there, they raise their goal

Question 17

What are two external factors that contribute to self-regulation?

Answer 17

1. Standards of evaluation- ie learning from parents the value of honesty
2. External reinforcement- incentives from external factors

Question 18

What are three internal factors that contribute to self-regulation?

Answer 18

1. Self-observation of performance
2. Judging or evaluating performance- judging the worth of our actions based in the standards and goals we set for ourself
3. Self-reaction- people create incentives for their behaviors based on self-reinforcement and self-punishment

Question 19

What are outcome expectations?

Answer 19

Those expectations that refer to the likely consequences of our behavior

Question 20

What are 4 mechanisms people use to disengage internal control and commit inhumane behaviors?

Answer 20

1. Redefining the nature of the behavior through moral justification, advantageous comparisons (comparing even worse behavior to make yours seem better) or by making it seem like its a good thing
2. Minimizing, ignoring, or distorting the consequences
3. Blame or dehumanize the victim
4. Displace or diffuse responsibility

Question 21

What are 3 ways someone can redefine the nature of a behavior in order to commit inhumane behaviors?

Answer 21

1. Moral justification
2. Advantageous/palliative comparisons (comparing even worse behavior to make yours seem better)
3. Use of euphemistic labels to make the behavior seem like a good thing (Nazi’s calling the mudering of Jews the “purification of Europe”)

Question 22

What is enactive learning?

Answer 22

learning by doing and experiencing the consequences of your actions