The Social-Cognitive Perspective Of Personality

Bandura is Back Social cognitive theory stems from social learning theory (under the umbrella of behaviorism). Behaviorism (as introduced by Watson) supports a direct and unidirectional pathway between stimulus and response, representing human behavior as a simple reaction to external stimuli.

Social Cognitive Theory Focus on how we interact with our environment. Reciprocal Determinism: the interacting influences between personality and environmental factors.

Social Cognitive Perspective Different People choose different environments. The TV you watch, friends you hang with, music you listen to were all chosen by you (your disposition) But after you choose the environment, it also shapes you.

Social Cognitive Perspective Our personalities help create situations to which we react. If I expect someone to be angry with me, I may give that person the cold shoulder, creating the very behavior I expect.

Personal Control Our sense of controlling our environment rather than the environment controlling us.

External Locus of Control The perception that chance or outside forces beyond one’s personal control determine one’s fate.

Internal Locus of Control The perception that one controls one’s own fate.

Learned Helplessness The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

Personal Control Optimism Versus Pessimism Optimism and Health Excessive Optimism Blindness to one’s own incompetence Positive psychology the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Exploring the Self

Introduction Self Possible selves Spotlight effect overestimating other’s noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spotlight shines on us).

The Benefits of Self-Esteem

Self-Serving Bias Self-serving bias Defensive self-esteem People accept more responsibility for good deeds than for bad, successes than failures Most people see themselves as better than average Defensive self-esteem

Culture and the Self Individualism Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism

Individualism versus Collectivism