Social Cognitive Theories and the Self

Module 47 Overview

Social Cognitive Perspective

  • Proposed by Albert Bandura.

  • Key Concept: Behavior is influenced by the interaction between an individual's traits (including thoughts) and their social context.

  • Stresses the interplay of traits and situations applying principles of learning, thinking, cognition, and social behavior.

Reciprocal Influences

  • Reciprocal Determinism: Behavior results from the interaction of internal personal factors (thoughts, feelings) and external environmental factors.

  • Three Types of Interactions:

    • Individuals select different environments.

    • Personalities shape how events are interpreted and reacted to.

    • Personalities influence situations that elicit reactions from others.

Example of Reciprocal Determinism

  • Internal factors: Interest in rock climbing, prior experiences.

  • Behavioral factors: Deciding to try rock climbing based on internal and environmental influences.

  • Environmental factors: Presence of friends who rock climb or past experiences with climbing.

Gene-Environment Interaction

  • Genetically influenced traits can provoke responses from others, guiding behavior.

  • Example: Peer pressure can influence decisions, like trying rock climbing if others are enthusiastic.

Biopsychosocial Approach

  • Personality studied across multiple levels:

    • Biological: Genetic temperament, autonomic nervous system reactivity, brain activity distinctions between extroverts and introverts.

    • Learned Responses: Influence of unconscious thought patterns and perceptions.

    • Sociocultural Influences: Effects of childhood experiences, cultural expectations, and social support on self-concept.

Assessment in Social Cognitive Theory

  • Better predictions of behavior derive from observing past behavior in similar situations.

  • Assessment center exercises tend to reveal visible dimensions of personality better than other methods.

  • Emphasizes practical behavior rather than unconscious motives or biologically influenced traits.

Criticism of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

  • Critics argue SCT focuses too heavily on situational aspects and neglects internal traits.

  • Acknowledges the varied assumptions, views, and assessment methods in different personality theories.

The Concept of the Self

  • Central to personality, the self organizes thoughts, feelings, and actions.

  • Neuroscience research identifies active brain regions during self-reflection.

  • Historical perspectives on the self:

    • William James (1890)

    • Gordon Allport (1943)

Self Concepts

  • Self-Esteem: Personal assessment of self-worth. High self-esteem correlates with confidence; low self-esteem correlates with self-doubt.

  • Self-Efficacy: Belief in the effectiveness of one’s actions. Influences persistence on difficult tasks and overall happiness.

  • Causation Consideration: Correlation does not imply causation; high self-efficacy does not necessarily stem from happiness or persistence.

Impact of Self-Image

  • Self-image threats can lead to increased racial bias.

  • Hands-on experiences in job-relevant situations are effective predictors of job performance.

  • General self-image correlates weakly with academic success, whereas academic self-efficacy has a stronger prediction ability.

Praise and Performance

  • Over praising without performance may harm self-esteem and lead to complacency; reinforces the idea of participation ribbons.

  • Benefits of humanistic psychology indicate acceptance of the self aids in accepting others.

Costs of Self-Esteem

  • Balance between optimism and pessimism is essential for success.

  • Excessive optimism can cause blindness to real risks and may lead to complacency.

  • Blindness to Incompetence: Overconfident individuals may not recognize their lack of competence.

Self-Serving Bias

  • Tendency to view oneself positively – taking credit for successes but blaming external factors for failures.

  • Better Than Average Effect: The common belief that one is superior compared to peers despite statistical limitations.

  • Risks linked to narcissism due to disproportionate self-focus.

Strategic Self-Disparagement

  • Self-criticism may serve strategic purposes, such as preparing for potential failure and allowing for learning from mistakes.

  • Defensive vs. Secure Self-Esteem:

    • Defensive Self-Esteem: Fragile; identity threatened by failure.

    • Secure Self-Esteem: More robust; less influenced by external validation, leading to greater quality of life.