Self-Regulation Theory Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the theories of Bandura and Baumeister, the developmental stages of self-regulation by Kopp, and factors influencing behavioral control.

Albert Bandura

A psychologist who introduced mediating variables into classical learning theory, viewing individuals as active agents who shape and control behavior.

Reciprocal determinism

The concept that external (environmental) and internal (cognitive, personality) factors both influence behavior, which then feeds back into those factors through learning and shaping the environment.

Self-regulation

A system of conscious, personal factors—including perception, evaluation, and regulation—that helps control actions, thoughts, and impulses.

External reinforcements/punishments

External stimuli that Bandura argues are not necessary for many behaviors, as most behaviors are controlled by internal self-regulatory processes.

Cognitive distortions

Errors in thinking that can be corrected through self-evaluation and comparing thoughts with reality to achieve a better fit.

Self-observation

A prerequisite of self-regulation involving monitoring performance quality, quantity, speed, or originality in competence situations, and sociability or morality in interpersonal situations.

Personal standards

The evaluation of one’s own performance relative to internal references rather than comparing it to others.

Reference standards

The evaluation of performance relative to a "norm" or the performance of other individuals.

Attribution of performance

The process of identifying whether successes and failures are caused by internal or external factors.

Neurophysiological modulation

The first stage of development (birth to $2-3$ months) involving reflexes and adaptation to activation cycles.

Sensorimotor modulation

The developmental stage ($3-9$ months +) involving self-initiated motor actions where the meaning of the situation is not yet consciously represented.

Control phase

The developmental stage ($9-12$ months to $18+$ months) where the child begins to regulate behavior and emotions according to social situations or task demands.

Emergence of self-control

The developmental stage ($24+$ months) involving cooperation, delay of behavior, thinking in representations (rules), and memory retrieval.

Self-regulation (Kopp's 5th stage)

The stage beginning at $36+$ months characterized by flexibility in social and performance contexts and the development of evaluative processes.

Emotional self-control

The management of anger and frustration, as well as the ability to calm oneself in emotionally aroused situations.

Cognitive self-regulation

The background cognitive processes associated with problem-solving abilities.

Social self-control

The ability to regulate or inhibit speech and actions, particularly when they would reflect negative opinions or thoughts.

Standards (Baumeister)

The specific criteria or benchmarks of desired behavior used in the self-regulation process.

Monitoring (Baumeister)

The conscious observation of thoughts and situations used to prevent the violation of behavioral standards.

Willpower

An internal resource, often compared to a muscle, that enables the regulation of impulses.

Frontal lobe

The primary brain structure whose development and maturity influence the biological ability to inhibit responses and resist opposing influences.

Temperament

A genetically coded behavioral pattern involving effortful control, behavioral inhibition, and the avoidance of novel situations.

Ego depletion

A state in Baumeister’s Strength Model where the limited amount of energy available for self-regulation is exhausted.

Training hypothesis

The theory that self-regulation can be improved through practice, such as avoiding stereotypical labels or using the non-dominant hand.

Self-monitoring (Therapy)

A therapeutic tool, such as keeping a diary, used for the close and precise tracking of habitual behaviors like smoking or eating habits.