Chapter 5 - Social Cognitive Theory

Understand the main ideas that underpin social cognitive theory (people learn..)

people learn by observing others.

Understand the main ideas that underpin social cognitive theory (learning is an…)

learning is an internal process that may or may not result in a behavioural change.

Understand the main ideas that underpin social cognitive theory: (reinforcement and..)

reinforcement and punishment have several indirect effects on learning and behaviour.

Understand the main ideas that underpin social cognitive theory (cognition plays..)

cognition plays an important part in assessing the impact of on-going behaviour.

General principles of social cognitive theory: observational learning

learn by watching others and then copying what they do.

General principles of social cognitive theory: self-efficacy

belief in one’s capabilities to execute an action.

General principles of social cognitive theory: expectations

anticipated consequences of a person’s behaviour, often influence what the person will do.

General principles of social cognitive theory: reinforcements

involves responses to behaviour that increase or decrease the likelihood of recurrence.

General principles of social cognitive theory: reciprocal causation

suggests that personal factors, environmental influences, and behaviour continuously interact with and influence each other.

Reciprocal causation: behaviour

the actions you take can affect your environmental and your personal beliefs.

Reciprocal causation: personal factors

includes cognitions, attitudes, and skills. can effect both your behaviour and your environment.

Reciprocal causation: environment

-physical surroundings and context in which behaviour occurs

-environment can influence personal factors and behaviours.

Describe conditions for effective modelling: attention

-observer must be interested and focused on the model’s behaviour

-influence by the reference to similarity, competency, and prestige of the model’s characteristics.

Describe conditions for effective modelling: retention

-observer needs to remember the behaviour observed

-easier if behaviour is meaning, familiar, distinctive, and can be integrated with the observer’s existing knowledge.

Describe conditions for effective modelling: motivation

-observer must see the value in performing the modelled behaviour

-influenced by expected outcomes (values or consequence of performing the behaviour) and the observers confidence in their ability to perform the behaviour.

Describe conditions for effective modelling: motor reproduction

-observer must be able to physically carry out the behaviour

-depends on the observer’s cognitive and physical abilities, often requires practice and coordination

Cognitive factors that explain social cognitive theory: attention

paying attention to the behaviour we want to model.

Cognitive factors that explain social cognitive theory: retention

remembering the observed behaviour.

Cognitive factors that explain social cognitive theory: motivation

-having sufficient motivation to replicate the behaviour

-driven by the expected outcome/confidence

Cognitive factors that explain social cognitive theory: motor reproduction

-physically reproducing the behaviour

-includes out cognitive and physical abilities to replicate the action.