Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Theories of Personality

nurture

Behaviorists strictly believe in ? over nature

• they don’t believe in biological determinism

response

BF Skinner believes we demonstrate consistent behavior patterns because of our developed ? tendencies

animals

One criticism of behavorial approaches is that humans are far more complex than ?, the main subjucts of studies

Underestimate

behaviorists ? the importance of inborn personality traits

Social-Cognitive Perspective

Based on many behavioral theory principles, but addresses the cognitive aspect

• Albert Bandura believed personality is a product of inherent traits and situational context

Reciprocal Determinism

describes the interaction and mutual influence of behavior, internal personal factors, and environmental factors

changeable

Personality is ?, it is MOST definitely not static

Self-Efficacy

one’s own sense of competence and effectiveness

Attributional Style

are we funadmentally optimistic or pessimistic

Positive Psychology

study of optimal human functioning

realism

positive thinking is best when balanced with ?

Excessive

? optimism can blind people from their actual abilities and impulses

past behavior

In social cognitive theory, the best way to predict behavior in a given situation is to consider a person’s ? in similar situations

natural

A criticism of social-cognitive theory is that it is too situational, and not enough about ? personality traits