2: Social Cognition

Social Cognition

It refers to how individuals interpret, remember, and use information about the social world.

Social Perception

It is a social cognition process that involves perceiving a person’s body language.

Social Understanding

A social cognition process that involves decoding other people’s mental states and intentions.

Social decision-making

A social cognition process that involves around making decisions based on social contexts.

Theory of Mind

It is the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others, and to understand that others have perspectives different from one’s own.

Social Schemas

Mental shortcuts or frameworks used to understand social roles, cultural norms, and expected behaviors in given situations.

Attributional Style

How people explain the causes of their own and others’ behaviors, which heavily influences interpersonal judgments

Social Cognitive Theory

It states that human behavior is shaped through the continuous interaction of personal cognitive factors, behavior, and environmental influences.

Albert Bandura

He pioneered the Social Cognitive Theory.

Reciprocal Determinism

At the heart of the SCT, it posits that three factors dynamically interact to influence one another.

Personal Factors

One of the factors of human behavior (SCT):

• Cognition, beliefs, and biological traits

Behavior

One of the factors of human behavior (SCT):

• The actions and responses an individual takes

Environmental Factors

One of the factors of human behavior (SCT):

• External social and physical surroundings

Observational Learning

Key construct of SCT:

people learn by watching the actions of others (models) and the consequences of those actions

Attention

First step of Observational Learning:

Noticing the behavior

Retention

Second step of Observational Learning:

Remembering what was observed

Motor Recognition

Third step of Observational Learning:

Having the physical capability to replicate the action

Motivation

Fourth step of Observational Learning:

Having a reason or desire to adopt the behavior

Self-Efficacy

Key construct of SCT:

An individuals’s deeply held belief in their own capability to organize and successfully execute behaviors required to produce specific outcomes.

Outcome Expectations

Key construct of SCT:

The anticipated consequences of a person’s behavior which motivate them to act in a certain way.

Self-Regulation

Key construct of SCT:

It is the ability to control one’s own behavior, set goals, and evaluate one’s progress.

Attitudes

Key concept in Social Cognition:

These are powerful sets of emotions and beliefs that directly influence human behavior.

Person Perception

Key concept in Social Cognition:

The process used to form impressions of others, influenced by situations, past experiences, and societal expectations.

Social Categorization

It is a mental shortcut that lets us quickly judge people by grouping them, but it can lead to errors and stereotypes.

Prejudice

Key concept in Social Cognition:

It is a negative preconception or attitude toward members of a certain group.

Stereotypes

Key concept in Social Cognition:

An oversimplified, generalized belief or mental image about a specific group of people.

Discrimination

Key concept in Social Cognition:

These unjust or prejudicial behavioral bias against individuals or groups based on their perceived characteristics.

Persuasion

Key concept in Social Cognition:

A process in which one person/entity tries to influence another person or group of people to change their beliefs or behaviors.

Schema

A mental framework or cognitive structure that helps organize, interpret, and navigate the vast amount of information encountered daily.

Person Schemas

These are knowledge structures about specific individuals.

Role Schemas

These are knowledge structures about role occupants.

Scripts

These are schemas about events.

Self-Schemas

These are schemas peiple have about themselves.

The Schema Theory

It claims that our knowledge of the world is organized and categorized, which can influence our cognition and behavior.