The Social-Cognitive Perspective

Social-Cognitive Perspective Albert Bandura (1925- ) Perspective stating that understanding personality involves considering the situation and thoughts before, during, and after an event How do your thoughts, behaviors & environment influence your personality?

Social-Cognitive Perspective Play “The Social-Cognitive Model” (5:43) Segment #27 from Psychology: The Human Experience (5:43). Albert Bandura explains his theory. Social-Cognitive Model is used to explain the personality of Nelson Mandela.

Social Cognitive differs from Humanistic & Psychoanalytic Perspectives in Three Ways: It relies heavily on experimental findings It emphasizes conscious, self-regulating behavior It emphasizes that our sense of self (personality) can vary, depending on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a given situation.

The Social-Cognitive Perspective: Interacting with Our Environment

Social Cognitive Perspective Key Terms Reciprocal determinism - explains personality as the result of behavioral, cognitive, and environmental interactions Self-efficacy—belief that people have about their ability to meet demands or control aspects of a specific situation

Reciprocal Determinism: Three Factors Shape Personality We develop personality by choosing which environment to be in, which exposes us to certain situations, which in turn leads us make certain choices, which leads us to choose an environment… An interaction of three factors: The environment A person’s experiences & behaviors Thoughts or cognitions

Reciprocal Determinism

Self-Efficacy The sense that one can control the outcome of one’s environment We develop this in childhood but it continues as a lifelong process. A person’s cognitive skills, abilities & attitudes create our self-system We develop new behaviors and strengthen our self-efficacy by observing others and through mastery experiences. Different from Self-Esteem which is more global – How you feel about yourself in overall.

Achievement Motivation Play “Self-Efficacy” (5:00) Segment #19 from Psychology: The Human Experience.

The Social-Cognitive Perspective: Personal Control

Internal Locus of Control The perception that we control our own fate External Locus of Control The perception that chance, or forces beyond a person’s control, control one’s fate

Learned Helplessness The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated bad events Martin Seligman studied dogs that were unable to escape a painful stimulus and eventually stopped trying to escape.

Learned Helplessness Reciprocal Determinism

The Social-Cognitive Perspective: Evaluating the Perspective

Evaluation of Social Cognitive Perspective Well grounded in empirical, laboratory research However, laboratory experiences are rather simple and may not reflect the complexity of human interactions Ignores the influences of unconscious, emotions, conflicts instead placing responsibility of behavior firmly on ourselves.

Freud vs. Bandura on Human Aggression Freud – Human aggression is a universal unconscious instinct controlled by the superego and restraints of society. Bandura – All behavior is driven by conscious goals and motives. Aggression is the result of a deliberate, rational choice in a particular situation.