Social Cognitive Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Social Cognitive Theory?

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is a psychological theory developed by psychologist Albert Bandura which states that individuals learn from one another through observation, imitation and modeling. The theory places emphasis on the social context in which learning takes place, emphasizing reciprocal determinism meaning that behavior is both influenced by environmental factors as well as our own actions. SCT goes beyond classical behaviorism to include other forms of learning such as observational and verbal instruction. Additionally, it suggests how thinking and self-regulation play a role in learning outcomes.At its core, SCT states that an individual’s environment influences their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This includes not only external forces such as family members or peers but also internal variables like cognition and motivation. There are four primary concepts within this framework: attentional processes, retention processes, motor reproduction processes and motivational processes. Attentional processes refer to how much focus the learner has on a task; retention involves the ability to retain information; motor reproduction describes the ability to reproduce learned movements or behaviors; finally motivational processes involve internal motivations for engaging in certain activities or tasks. All these components interact with each other when determining outcomes of behavior change over time. The fundamental idea behind SCT is that it allows us to gain insight into why people act in certain ways based on their environment as well as their personal characteristics/traits etc. By understanding this process we can better understand how our behavior affects others around us and vice versa leading to better interpersonal relationships among people in general society at large. Additionally, this provides an opportunity for interventionists who work with those dealing with mental health issues or criminal activity to target specific areas for improvement so that positive changes can be made more quickly than before due mainly thanks to the application of SCT principles In conclusion Social Cognitive Theory is an important tool used within psychology today because it helps explain why people do what they do while taking into account various aspects of social dynamics along with personal traits/characteristics etc.