SCT Flashcards
(44 cards)
What is SCT?
A theory of learning that emphasizes the dynamic interaction between an individual’s personal factors, their behavior, and the environment.
Albert Bandura
imitation and modelling, focus on “self-process” e.g. goals, self-evaluation, self-efficacy, Bobo Doll experiement
Walter Mischel
situation vs traits debate, viewed the individual as a cognitive-affective being who construes, interprets and transforms the stimulus in a dynamic, reciprocal interaction with the social world
SCT is a critique…
of other personality theories such as behaviourism (we can learn without rewards and punishment), psychoanalysis (we have an active consciousness), Trait theory (stable traits but also variability in different situations)
What are the basic principles of SCT?
- Emphasis on cognitive processes
- People as active agents
- Focus on learning of complex patterns of behaviours often with the absence of rewards e.g. modelling
- Focus on average behavioural tendencies and variability in behaviour
- Behaviour has social origins.
The structure of personality consists of
a. Competencies and Skills
b. Self-beliefs and expectations
c. Evaluative standards/values
d. Personal Goals
Competencies and Skills
Skills and knowledge are learned through social interaction and vary by context.
Self-beliefs (Self-efficacy)
Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to succeed in specific situations.
Expectations
Expectations are beliefs about future outcomes that guide behaviour more than actual rewards.
Evaluative standards/values
Evaluative standards are internal rules we use to judge ourselves and our actions.
Personal Goals
Personal goals are desired future outcomes that motivate thought and behaviour.
Explain the Reciprocal Determinism Model as a cause of behaviour?
A model where the environment, the personality (beliefs, goals, expectations and standards), and behaviour all influence each other reciprocally
Explain the CAPS Model
Stands for Cognitive-Affective Personality System—a model explaining how thoughts and emotions interact with situations to shape consistent behavioural patterns.
Learning via observation - modelling
more than mimicry - internalise a mental representation of behaviour
vicarious conditioning
Acquisition vs Performance - Behaviour is learned regardless of reinforcers and behaviour is repeated based off of reinforcers.
What is the example of vicarious conditioning?
Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study - children observed an adult model aggressive behaviour towards a Bobo doll
Findings of the Bobo Doll Experiment for non-incentive condition
Children were most aggressive when they observed model being rewarded, least aggressive when observed model being punished. Key: consequences to model effected child performance (level of aggression) but not acquisition of behaviour (still aggressive)
Findings of the Bobo Doll Experiment for incentivised condition
most aggressive - regardless of observed condition (rewarded or punished). Incentivising the children increased violent acts regardless of the type of consequences to the model.
What is an example of self-regulation in learning?
Self-regulation helps us manage impulses and stay focused on long-term goals; in the marshmallow study, kids waited longer when taught to think of the treat differently (e.g., as a cloud), showing self-control improves outcomes.
Evaluative standards in learning
Evaluative standards guide behaviour by setting internal rules; children who valued waiting for a bigger reward over immediate pleasure followed a higher standard and waited longer.
Delay of Gratification
Children waited longer when they couldn’t see the reward or had cognitive strategies to distract themselves, showing the importance of internal thought processes in self-control.
SCT vs. Behaviourism
Unlike behaviourism, SCT highlights how internal cognitive processes (like self-talk and re-framing) affect behaviour—not just external rewards.
Long-term impacts of self-regulation
: Kids with better self-regulation in the marshmallow test later showed higher SAT scores, better motivation, and stronger problem-solving.
Why Be Cautious About Marshmallow Results?
The test may not only measure self-control, but also factors like trust, life experience, and socio-economic background.
