Social Cognitive Theory & Community Organizing – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the major constructs, strategies, and tools discussed in the lecture on Social Cognitive Theory and the Community Organizing Model.

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

Behavior change theory highlighting the dynamic, reciprocal interaction between person, environment, and behavior, with emphasis on social influence and reinforcement.

Reciprocal Determinism

The mutual influence of personal factors, behavior, and environmental conditions on one another.

Observational Learning (Modeling)

Acquiring new behaviors by watching the actions and outcomes experienced by others.

Behavioral Capability

Possessing the knowledge and skills required to perform a given behavior.

Expectations (SCT)

Beliefs about the likely outcomes or consequences of performing a behavior.

Reinforcements

Positive or negative responses to a behavior that affect its likelihood of recurring.

Self-Efficacy

An individual’s confidence in their ability to take action, overcome barriers, and achieve desired behavior change.

Community Organizing Model (COM)

A community-level framework that builds collective power by engaging residents to identify problems, mobilize resources, and implement solutions.

Empowerment

A social action process through which people gain mastery over their lives and communities.

Community Capacity

The assets, knowledge, relationships, and resources that enable a community to identify problems, mobilize, and address issues.

Participation

Meaningful, equal engagement of community members as partners in planning, implementation, and evaluation—“Never do for others what they can do for themselves.”

Relevance

Community organizing principle that programs must start where the people are, addressing priorities identified by the community itself.

Issue Selection

Choosing a specific, achievable, and immediate target for change that unifies and strengthens the community.

Critical Consciousness

Collective awareness and analysis of social, political, and economic forces contributing to a problem, prompting action to change them.

Social Capital

The trust, networks, and relationships that facilitate collective action within a community.

Promotores / Peer Educators

Trusted community members trained to deliver health education and model behaviors to their peers.

Asset Mapping

A participatory activity that identifies and documents a community’s strengths, resources, and capacities.

Community Advisory Board

A representative group of community members that guides program decisions and ensures local perspectives are integrated.

Photovoice

A participatory method where community members use photography and dialogue to highlight local issues and advocate for change.

Needs Assessment

Systematic process of identifying and prioritizing a community’s problems, resources, and desired improvements.

Train-the-Trainer

Capacity-building approach where participants learn a skill and then teach it to others, boosting self-efficacy and reach.

Milestone Celebrations

Planned events that publicly recognize progress, providing positive reinforcement for continued participation.

Incentive Program

Use of tangible rewards (e.g., vouchers, prizes) to encourage adoption or maintenance of desired behaviors.

Role Play

Interactive technique allowing participants to practice new skills in simulated scenarios, enhancing behavioral capability.

Leadership Workshop

Training sessions aimed at developing community members’ skills in guiding groups, advocating, and decision-making.

Coalition Building

Forming alliances among organizations and stakeholders to combine resources and strengthen community capacity.

Town Hall

Public meeting where community members and leaders discuss concerns, share information, and plan collective actions.

Action Planning

Structured process of setting goals, assigning tasks, and timelines to guide implementation of community initiatives.

Parent Action Group

A collective of parents organized to identify priorities, advocate, and implement solutions affecting children’s health.

Goal Setting

Process of defining specific, measurable objectives that guide behavior change and reinforce self-efficacy.

Observational Survey

Systematic assessment of environmental conditions or behaviors conducted by participants to inform interventions.

Social Marketing Campaign

Strategic use of marketing principles and media channels to promote healthy behaviors within a target audience.

Peer Panel

A forum where individuals with relevant lived experience share stories and answer questions, fostering observational learning and expectation shaping.

Journaling Activity

Guided self-reflection exercise used to explore motivations, reinforce learning, and track behavior change.