• Determine if your peers’ examples are accurate.
• Discuss how the information you have learned this week has built on the concepts from previous weeks and why this understanding helps to build your expertise.
• Share resources that you used to help you understand the content more effectively.

Explain social cognitive theory (SCT).

Social cognitive theory, formerly known as social learning theory, suggests that three factors affect learning: behavioral, personal, and environmental (Rosser-Majors, 2017). We learn through observing our environment, applying personal feelings and beliefs, and practicing or strengthening skills (Rosser-Majors, 2017). Depending on the context of the situation, one factor may influence our learning and subsequent behavior more heavily than the others. Social cognitive theory is a blend of the main aspects of both behaviorism and cognitivism (Rosser-Majors, 2017). Bandura, the creator of social learning theory, emphasized self-efficacy’s role in learning, suggesting that someone’s thoughts about their abilities will heavily influence their behavior and learning (Rosser-Majors, 2017). Because of this, he evolved social learning theory to social cognitive theory, realizing the importance cognition plays in learning.

Evaluate the applicability of SCT to a real-life experience.

I grew up in what is considered an authoritarian household. My parents were incredibly strict about eating habits, of all things. We were taught to eat slowly and purposefully, while also maintaining proper “etiquette”. Coming home from school and two sports practices back-to-back, I was usually ravenous when dinner time came around. Because of this, I often ate very quickly and didn’t converse with my family very much. My parents would scold me every time, but it took punishment being inflicted for me to change my behavior. If I ate too quickly, I would be sent to bed without dinner. They would do the same if I scraped my fork too often/loudly or really any other eating behaviors that I was taught were not correct. Through observing my parents through dinners, I learned to engage in dinner in the way that was expected of me. We would speak about our day, eat slowly and purposefully, and clean up afterward. As an adult, I found that I have a bit of an intolerance to messy eaters or people that eat without conversation. I know that this is an odd schema development, but I associated eating with calmness and conversation. This has hindered my ability to enjoy myself in restaurants, as they are often loud and bustling. I have slowly changed my previous knowledge of how most people think about eating, so it is not as unusual as I was taught as a child. It took meeting new people and being away from my parents to learn it, but it was not incredibly difficult. Eating regularly alone or with other people enabled me to create new schemata.

SCT suggests that the environment affects our knowledge or behaviors. What does reciprocal determinism suggest and why is this important?

Reciprocal determinism suggests that the influence of the environment, person, and behavior can affect each other (Rosser-Majors, 2017). In other words, someone’s behavior can affect their environment or their personal thoughts and beliefs, or their environment can affect their behavior, and so on.

For example, I remember one of the first lectures I attended during my first year of university. The class was huge, with over one hundred students in attendance. During the first few weeks, the professor asked many unanswered questions. The classroom environment was especially quiet, and students were afraid to speak up in such a large class. About halfway through the course, I realized I had many questions that would be better addressed during the lecture rather than through email later that day. I asked a question during the lecture and saw many other students nodding in agreement. The professor addressed us all and answered the question thoroughly. Over the next few weeks, I noticed that many other students were now speaking up in class, and we often had meaningful discussions with the professor. Because I spoke up, I influenced my environment. I also chose to speak up more often after my initial question due to the environment of the class being altered.

Thank you for reading!

ANSWER

Exploring Social Cognitive Theory: Application and Implications

Introduction: Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), also known as social learning theory, presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how individuals learn and develop behaviors through the interplay of behavioral, personal, and environmental factors (Rosser-Majors, 2017). This theory, rooted in the works of Albert Bandura, amalgamates the essence of behaviorism and cognitivism, emphasizing the role of observation, cognition, and self-efficacy in shaping human learning and behavior.

Building on Previous Concepts: The concepts learned this week have provided a deeper understanding of SCT’s intricate mechanisms and its applicability to real-life scenarios. These concepts align seamlessly with the principles discussed in previous weeks, particularly those related to cognitive development and behavior. SCT’s emphasis on the interplay between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors echoes the holistic approach discussed in previous cognitive theories. Moreover, SCT’s emphasis on self-efficacy echoes concepts of motivation and self-regulation introduced in earlier discussions on motivation theories. This interconnectedness enhances our expertise by providing a broader perspective on how various psychological theories intersect and contribute to our comprehension of human behavior and cognition.

Real-Life Application of SCT: An illustrative example that resonates with SCT’s principles is the personal experience of growing up in an authoritarian household with specific eating habits. Through consistent reinforcement and punishment, the environment (family), behavior (eating habits), and personal factors (thoughts and beliefs) interacted to shape the individual’s eating behaviors and attitudes towards mealtime. This example exemplifies SCT’s central tenet of reciprocal determinism, where the environment, behavior, and personal factors continually influence and shape each other.

Importance of Reciprocal Determinism: Reciprocal determinism is a fundamental concept within SCT, asserting that the relationship between the environment, personal factors, and behavior is bidirectional (Rosser-Majors, 2017). The provided university lecture scenario underscores the importance of reciprocal determinism. The initial quiet classroom environment influenced individual behavior (not speaking up), while one student’s decision to break the silence altered the environment and subsequently influenced the behavior of other students. This example demonstrates how individual actions can initiate a chain reaction that shapes the environment and, in turn, the behaviors of others.

Conclusion: Social Cognitive Theory offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how individuals learn, develop behaviors, and shape their cognitive processes through the interplay of personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. This week’s concepts have further enhanced our expertise by deepening our comprehension of SCT’s principles and their applicability to real-life scenarios. The example of growing up with specific eating habits and the university lecture scenario vividly demonstrate SCT’s concepts, particularly the bidirectional relationship known as reciprocal determinism. As we continue to explore the interconnectedness of various psychological theories, our understanding becomes more nuanced, enabling us to analyze and address complex human behaviors and cognitive processes more effectively.

Resources Used

Rosser-Majors, M. L. (2017). Social Cognitive Theory. In M. L. Rosser-Majors, K. H. Korgen, & V. K. White (Eds.), Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era: Text and Readings (pp. 99-118). SAGE Publications.