SU6 SOCIAL COGNIIVE Flashcards
(7 cards)
Describe Social Cognitive Theorists’ view of human nature
Social cognitive theorists present a balanced and interactional view of human nature
they reject extreme positions like environmental determinism or the idea that behaviour is simply a result of internal traits.
Instead, they claim that behaviour is a result of an interaction with behavioural, personal and environmental factors (reciprocal determinism)
to support self-regulation and human freedom within the environmental context
people are active agents, not responders
individuals perceive and evaluate stimuli, set goals and plan actions, reflect on past behaviour and make adjustments
Mischel reinforced this by showing that behavior can’t be predicted by personality traits alone or the situation alone, but rather by the specific interaction between the two—known as the theory of specificity (depends on situation)
People choose behaviors from a response repertoire (responses someone has at their disposal) based on:
The situation,
Their past learning experiences,
Their expectations and goals.
Behaviors people produce in the situation
do cognitive theorist consider personaliy a set of parts
they do not believe personality has a set of parts.
focus is on functioning and dynamics,
personality is seen as a process and not fixed.
behaviour is a result of the person and the situation interacting
the person is the locus of psychological processes like observation planning and control these are called person variables or personality functions shaped by genetics and the environment
Explain the dynamics of personality about motivation
motivation is not attributed to specific drves but a result of interaction an learning
Bandura’s view on social cognitive- rejects the idea that behavior is Soley driven by unconscious drives and argues that behaviour is too complex to be explained by a few drives behaviour is a result of the interaction between environment and cognitive processes
behaviur is motivated by the expectation of probable results
behavior is shaped by personal experiences regarding the outcomes of one’s behaviour
r observing the results of others behaviour
individuals interpret and evaluate others and their own results
self-evaluation plays a role in motivation people evaluate behavior against personal standards they strive for self-reward and avoid self-punishment
self-regulation regulating behaviors to achieve goals and delaying pleasure
Explain the dynamics of personality about the person variables( ROtter)
Rotter’s Theory on Behavior:
Human behavior results from the interaction of:
Subjective preferences (desired rewards from behavior).
Expectations (beliefs that certain actions will lead to specific rewards).
Basic Prediction Formula:
BP = f(E, RV)
BP (Behavior Potential): Likelihood of behavior occurring.
E (Expectancy): Belief that behavior will lead to a specific outcome.
RV (Reinforcement Value): Value placed on that outcome.
If both E and RV are high, BP is high (behavior is more likely).
If either E or RV is low, BP is lower (behavior is less likely).
Generalized Expectancies:
Individuals develop general expectancies about the results of their behavior based on past experiences.
These expectancies differ between individuals, influencing their behavior.
Locus of Control:
Internal locus of control: Belief that an individual controls their life and outcomes.
Tied to high achievement motivation and self-control.
External locus of control: Belief that outcomes are determined by external factors (e.g., luck, fate).
People with this view tend to be more influenced by outside factors.
Flexibility of Locus of Control:
Locus of control is not fixed—people may show an internal locus in some situations and an external one in others.
Research findings:
Internal locus of control is linked to higher achievement motivation.
External locus of control is linked to greater susceptibility to external influences.
Explain the dynamics of personality about learning
Explain the dynamics of personality about the person variables( Bandura)
Bandura’s Key Capabilities:
Symbolizing Capability:
Allows humans to conserve and manipulate experiences as cognitions.
Enables reflection on experiences and use of this information to plan future actions.
Supports communication across time and space, influencing others and enabling the accumulation of cultural knowledge.
Forethought Capability:
Humans can plan for the future, set goals, and take actions aligned with these goals.
This capability allows individuals to act beyond immediate stimuli or past programming.
Vicarious Capability:
People can learn by observing others, expanding their learning potential.
This enables learning complex or dangerous behaviors that would be hard to acquire through direct experience.
Self-Regulatory Capability:
People can live by their own standards, becoming relatively independent of others’ approval or control.
Self-Reflective Capability:
The ability to form a self-image and evaluate oneself.
A key component is self-efficacy, the belief in one’s ability to function effectively in a given situation.
Self-Efficacy Theory:
Self-efficacy: The belief in one’s capabilities to handle a situation effectively. It influences:
Whether a person will attempt to engage with a situation.
The situations they choose (they tend to choose those where they believe they will succeed).
Motivation and persistence; high self-efficacy increases these, leading to success and reinforcing the belief.
Low self-efficacy leads to avoidance, lower motivation, and a vicious cycle of failure.
Research and Applications:
Self-efficacy plays a central role in motivation, behavior regulation, and achievement.
Bandura’s findings encouraged the development of methods to increase self-efficacy, applied in therapy and educational contexts.
This model explains human functioning as a dynamic interaction of cognitive capabilities, with self-efficacy being crucial for persistence, success, and overall motivation. Would you like to explore Bandura’s theory further or discuss its applications in specific areas?
Explain the dynamics of personality about the person variables (MISCHEL)
Mischel’s Cognitive-Social Person Variables
(Integrated ideas from Rotter and Bandura)
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Encoding Strategies
- How people perceive, interpret, and categorize situations.
- Perceptions shape reactions: one person may see a situation as threatening, another as challenging or relaxing.
- People develop consistent patterns of attention and interpretation.
- Influences what they learn and how they see themselves.
- Related to Bandura’s self-efficacy.
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Expectancies
- Based on Rotter’s concept of expectancy.
- Refers to what a person expects will happen as a result of their behavior.
- Self-efficacy expectancies are included here.
- Key source of individual differences.
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Subjective Values
- Similar to Rotter’s reinforcement value.
- Even with the same expectations, people act differently if they value the reward differently.
- Behavior depends not just on outcome, but on how much it matters to the individual.
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Self-Regulatory Systems and Plans
- Includes personal standards, goals, and coping strategies.
- How individuals manage their actions, monitor progress, and react to success or failure.
- Reflects personal control and planning.
- People differ widely in their self-regulation.
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Competencies
- Individual skills and abilities to deal with challenges and environments.
- People differ in what they can do and how they apply knowledge in real situations.
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