Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory

*bandura believed that behavior occurs as result of a complex interplay between inner processes and environmental influences

*bandura places special emphasis on the role of the cognitive determinants of behavior as the result of the actual cause of behavior

Social Learning Theory has also been referred as the bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories due to bandura's explanation of various stage of social learning

Triadic reciprocal determinism: Theory that cognition, behavior, and environmental influences all operate interactively as determinants of one another

*Over time we use both verbal representation and imaginal representation to guide our behavior and solve problems symbolically

• Eventually can see probably consequences of our behavior and modify our actions accordingly

  • Use both insightful and foresightful behavior

*Bandura believed behavior is regulated by anticipated outcomes: expectation that certain behavior will have desired effects, others will have unwanted outcomes, and others are insignificant

Bandura disagreed with Skinner that:

• Reinforcement/punish automatically strengthens/weakens behavior

• Behavior results from our direct experiences of rewards and punishments

• Reinforcement/punish do not fully account for the way behavior is acquired, maintained, or altered

*bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning

• His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people

Observational Learning: Learning in which new responses are made as a result of watching the performance of others (imitative learning)

Bandura refers to the process of observational learning as Modeling: individuals learn new behavior while observing others

• Modeling is a form of learning where actual behavior does not need to occur

• Considered necessary to avoid trial and error

Factors that play a role in modeling:

1. Personality characteristics

2. Prior experiences

3. Characteristics of the model

4. Rewards and punishments associated with the model

Vicarious reinforcement: willingness to imitate the behavior of a model after observing that the model was reinforced for the behavior

*Social learning theory consists of four steps: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation

• Ultimately, people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, modeling

• As a result, people learn a variety of behaviors but actively decide whether or not to perform them on the basis of their estimate of consequences

*Bandura believed punishment does not prevent the acquisition of immoral or illegal behaviors and can surface later under appropriate circumstances

• Media is harmful to bandura

Two major recommendations regarding modifying and control of media representations of aggressive and violent behavior

1. Create more constructive shows and video games

2. More parental control and involvement:

   • Limit their children's exposure to media violence

   • Monitor the content of programs in advanced

   • Model nonaggressive behavior

   • Reward nonviolent behavior

The theory of self efficacy lies at the center of Bandura's social cognitive theory, which emphasizes the role of observational learning and social experience in the development of personality

• Bandura has defined self-efficacy as one's belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task

• One's sense of self efficacy can play a major role in how one approaches goals, tasks, and challenges

Bandura's self efficacy theory is a widely accepted method in psychology which helps us develop confidence in ourselves

• Developed in the late 90s, the self-efficacy theory attempts to explain why people deal with challenges differently

Efficacy expectations: beliefs or convictions on the part of individuals that they can produce certain behaviors (not actual skills)

• According to Bandura, competent functioning requires both skills and judgements of self efficacy

Efficacy expectations are rooted in our personal experiences:

1. Mastery experiences (performance accomplishments)

2. Vicarious experiences

3. Verbal persuasion

4. Emotional and physiological states

Bandura's theory proposed four sources of self efficacy:

1. Mastery experiences

   1. According to bandura's theory of self efficacy, mastery experiences are gained when we succeed in a new challenge

   2. This is why the best way to learn a new skill is to keep practicing

   3. When we do this, we teach ourselves we can learn new skills and capable of putting in the required work

2. Vicarious Experiences

   1. Vicarious experiences are simply things we learn from a teacher, mentor, or role model

   2. Positive role models with healthy levels of self efficacy teach us to believe in ourselves, also

   3. In self efficacy theory vicarious experiences may be from family members, teachers, coaches, or counselors

   4. Usually, they are those we see as important and who have an impact on our day to day lives

3. Verbal persuasion

   1. Verbal persuasion is another kind of vicarious experience but relates to what we are told as children

   2. When we have an important role model telling us we are capable of anything and can face any challenge, we are more likely to retain this belief

   3. This helps us at the moment by motivating us at the time but also in the future

   4. We remember the challenges we aced and remember that we are capable of facing the next one

4. Emotional and Psychological states

   1. In Bandura's theory, emotional and psychological states refer to the important of health and well being in the development of self efficacy

   2. When our health is low, it is more difficult to feel confident in our abilities

   3. It is also hard to maintain self efficacy when battling with anxiety or depression

Research on Self efficacy, effects two major life areas:

1. Career choice and job performance

2. Physical and mental health

Personality Development:

• The social cognitive experiences play a crucial role in the development and modifications of behavior throughout the process of personality development

Assessment techniques:

• Ultimately interested in demonstrating that experimental manipulations of events influence cognitive functioning which in turn influences subsequent responses

• Both Bandura and Skinner relied on experimental techniques for assessment

Implications for therapy: modeling as a therapeutic technique

• Successful in autistic children

• Used to reduce fears in children

• Self modeling: type of learning in which individuals watch themselves

• Behave in a situationally appropriate manner via videotape and then show the same behaviors later on