Albert Bandura Born: December 4, 1925 Grew up in Alberta, Canada High School had 20 people (2 were teachers) B.A/Doctorate – University of Iowa Took academic position at Stanford, still there today. One of the most famous psychologist still alive

Social Cognitive Theory Notes

Structure Reciprocal Determinism 3 distinct personality factors These three factors are interdependent, they need each others Behavior Environment Cognition Cognition Behavior Environment

Structure EXAMPLE of THEORY: How can a behavior change environment? Hostile behavior: A person’s behavior can change the environment of hostility Example: class attitudes

Process Self-Efficacy: Perception of how well we can function in a given situation Great predictor for how well you will accomplish certain tasks Efficacy runs through all process and all processes run through efficacy! 2 kinds of Expectations: (outcome of future)

Process Efficacy Expectation: Outcome Expectations: Expectation of the probability of successfully completing a task Task specific (self-esteem doesn’t predict, only self-efficacy does Outcome Expectations: Your expectations of the probability of a specific positive occurring if you successfully complete the task What is the value of the task? What you expect to have change when you complete something

Process Dimensions of Efficacy: Strength: how strong is your self-efficacy for something (in the face of failure, how strong are you in continuing on?) Magnitude: how far does your confidence or ability to accomplish a task go? (who are you better then?) Generality: think you can do one task well, so other similar tasks you might be able to do well also. (good at one thing, can you substitute a related activity and be good at that also?)

Development Self-Regulation (of Behavior) When you get to the “age of reason” “Age of Reason” – regulate your own behavior 3 Processes: (not motivations) 1. Self-Observation 2. Judgmental 3. Self-Response

Development Self-Observation: Regulate all behavior We notice what we do 2. Attribution: Explanation of why some event occurred How you come up with an explanation will tell you how harshly you judge yourself. positive or negative Example: Bad Exam, why? - didn’t study, test is too hard, unfair, nervous, sick, someone else’s fault

Development 3. Self-Response: Self – Contempt: Reward yourself or Punish yourself This is what directs your behavior These are Internal Rewards If: Someone else’s fault: less need to punish ourselves Our own fault: more need to punish ourselves Self – Contempt: most things we do is to avoid self-contempt, that is hate ourselves.