Week 12 part 1: Social Cognitive Theory

What does Social Cognitive Theory emphasize about personality development?

It emphasizes the role of cognitive processes and social context in understanding personality.

How does Social Cognitive Theory differ from psychodynamic approaches?

SCT acknowledges a cognitive unconscious but prioritizes conscious processes, viewing the unconscious as material outside current attention.

What is the focus of Social Cognitive Theory in contrast to trait theories?

SCT focuses on variability across situations rather than stable, nomothetic traits.

What does SCT argue about behavior and external stimuli?

SCT argues that behavior does not occur in a simple cause-and-effect vacuum; perception and interpretation are crucial.

What is the relationship between SCT and phenomenology?

SCT is similar to phenomenology in emphasizing the meanings individuals assign to objects, people, and events.

What are the key components emphasized by Social Cognitive Theory?

Active agency, social origins of behavior, cognitive processes, nomothetic and idiographic focus, and learning without objective rewards.

Who are the major figures associated with Social Cognitive Theory?

Walter Mischel and Albert Bandura.

What significant contributions did Albert Bandura make to psychology?

He developed Social Learning Theory, the Theory of Self-Efficacy, and conducted the 1961 Bobo Doll Experiment.

What is Walter Mischel known for in the context of personality theory?

He published 'Personality and Assessment' and emphasized the importance of situational cues in behavior.

What are the three essential human qualities according to SCT?

Reasoning with language, thinking about time (past, present, future), and engaging in self-reflection.

What does SCT incorporate in its science of personality?

It incorporates all major subfields of psychology and uses both nomothetic and idiographic approaches.

What are cognitive competencies in SCT?

Mental abilities that guide behavior, including problem-solving strategies and anticipating outcomes.

What are behavioral skills as defined by SCT?

Observable behaviors acquired through learning, modeling, and practice, including social interaction and self-regulation.

What are the three major categories of internal structures in SCT?

Beliefs (Expectancies), Evaluative Standards, and Goals.

What is perceived self-efficacy in SCT?

Beliefs about one's capabilities for future actions in specific situations.

How does self-efficacy influence decision-making?

It determines which challenges we choose to attempt and affects goal-setting.

What is the difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem?

Self-efficacy is situation-specific and task-focused, while self-esteem is a global feeling about oneself.

How can self-efficacy be increased according to SCT?

Through mastery experiences rather than praise or affirmations.

What are Self-Efficacy Expectations (SEE)?

Beliefs about one's capabilities to perform a behavior successfully.

What are Outcome Expectations (OE)?

Beliefs about what will happen if a behavior is performed.

What does SCT suggest about learning complex behaviors?

People can learn complex behaviors even in the absence of reinforcement.

What is the significance of the 'if-then' behavioral signatures proposed by Mischel?

They illustrate how personality emerges from stable patterns within situations rather than from global traits.

What role does society and culture play in SCT?

Society, culture, and history shape values, beliefs, and standards.

What does SCT prioritize in its approach to personality?

Pragmatic approaches that work and have applied utility.

What does SCT reject from traditional behaviorism?

The overemphasis on external stimuli and reinforcement as the sole determinants of behavior.

How does SCT view the unconscious mind?

As a source of material outside current attention rather than a container of pathology.

What is the importance of personal narratives in SCT?

They shape the meanings individuals assign to their experiences and influence their self-concept.

How does low SEE affect behavior?

It leads to avoidance, even when Outcome Expectations (OE) are high.

What quote by Wayne Gretzky relates to self-efficacy?

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

How can SEE be manipulated?

Through cognitive manipulation, such as framing past experiences positively or negatively.

What is the self-doubt cycle?

Self-doubt → avoidance → no growth → decreased skill → reinforces doubt.

What characteristics do individuals with high self-efficacy tend to exhibit?

Select challenging tasks, show persistence, experience less anxiety, and cope better with setbacks.

What is a goal in psychological terms?

A mental representation of the aim of an action or course of actions.

How can goals be organized?

Hierarchically, by time (short-term vs long-term), or by focus (achievement vs learning).

What are evaluative standards?

Criteria for judging the 'goodness' of a person, behavior, or object.

What is the process of self-evaluation?

Evaluate behavior against personal standards, leading to self-reinforcement or self-punishment.

What is Reciprocal Determinism?

The interaction between person, environment, and behavior influences each other.

What does the Cognitive-Affective Processing System (CAPS) describe?

How personality functions dynamically through interconnected cognitive and affective units.

What are the four components of observational learning?

Attention, Retention, Reproduction, and Motivation.

What was the Bobo Doll Experiment?

A study showing that children imitate aggressive behavior observed in adults.

What influences who we learn from in observational learning?

Models who are similar to us, high-status, and nurturing.

What does SCT emphasize about personality?

Variation is key; personality is defined by how behavior varies across contexts.

What is the difference between nomothetic and idiographic approaches?

Nomothetic looks at generalities across people, while idiographic examines unique personal patterns.

How does self-efficacy predict behavior?

Higher self-efficacy leads to more proactive behavior, while lower self-efficacy leads to avoidance.

What are achievement goals?

Goals focused on demonstrating competence and attaining high standards.

What are learning goals?

Goals focused on acquiring new skills and knowledge.

What is the impact of social influences on self-efficacy?

People can be talked out of trying something due to negative feedback or societal norms.

What is the significance of the 'if...then...' profiles in personality?

They show how behavior is consistent within specific types of situations.

What is the relationship between self-perception and behavior?

Our self-perceptions can become barriers to taking action.

What does it mean to 'satisfice' in relation to standards?

To set achievable standards rather than perfectionistic ones, which can be maladaptive.

How can self-efficacy be increased?

Through positive reinforcement, successful experiences, and social support.

What is the role of motivation in observational learning?

It determines whether a learner will reproduce the observed behavior.

What does the term 'anchoring SEE' refer to?

Using past experiences to influence current self-efficacy beliefs.

What did the study find about children with no aggressive model?

They showed much lower levels of aggression.

What is one key implication of observational learning in aggression?

Aggression can be learned purely through observation, without reinforcement.

What does SCT ask regarding knowledge and action?

How do we translate knowledge into action?

What does self-regulation refer to in SCT?

It refers to how individuals set goals, monitor behavior, evaluate performance, and guide actions based on personal standards.

What is an example of self-regulation provided in the notes?

"I didn't watch TV last night (behavior) because I had to finish this lecture prep (standard) in order to do my job competently (goal)."

How does self-efficacy affect motivation according to SCT?

High self-efficacy can lead to strong distress when failing, which can energize motivation, while low self-efficacy undermines motivation.

What is the key principle regarding goals and self-efficacy?

Wanting a goal is meaningless if you do not believe you can achieve it.

What are two diagnostic questions proposed by SCT for feeling 'stuck' on a goal?

1. Are my outcome expectations actually high? 2. Is low self-efficacy causing avoidance?

What is the SMART acronym in goal setting?

Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Timebound.

What is the difference between approach-framed and avoidance-framed goals?

Approach-framed goals focus on positive outcomes, while avoidance-framed goals focus on avoiding negative outcomes.

Why do approach-framed goals work better?

They produce positive emotional reinforcement and are easier to track and reward.

What is the Fresh Start Effect?

A psychological phenomenon where temporal landmarks create motivation and openness to behavior change.

What does SCT say about delay of gratification?

Delay of gratification is learned and context-dependent, not an innate trait.

What was the procedure of Mischel's Marshmallow Test?

Children were offered a choice between one treat now or two treats if they waited up to 15 minutes.

What were the original findings of the Marshmallow Test?

Children who waited longer showed higher SAT scores, better social functioning, and lower BMI later in life.

What are some critiques of the Marshmallow Test?

It measures current delay ability, not a stable trait, and has major sampling problems.

What does the rational adaptation argument suggest?

For children in inconsistent environments, taking immediate rewards is reasonable, not a sign of low self-control.

What are the four components required for observational learning?

1. Attention 2. Retention 3. Reproduction 4. Motivation.

Who do we pay more attention to when learning through observation?

Models who are similar to us, high-status, or nurturing.

What influences whether we imitate behavior?

We are more likely to imitate rewarded behavior and less likely to imitate punished behavior.