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An overview of the Social Cognitive Perspective, with a focus on the work of Albert Bandura. The theory emphasizes the interaction between thinking, behavior, and the environment, and the role of self-efficacy in shaping behavior. Reciprocal determinism is discussed as a key concept, with examples given of how behavior, thoughts, and the environment influence each other. The document also covers the strengths and weaknesses of the Social Cognitive Perspective, as well as a comparison with the trait approach to personality. Hans Eysenck's work on personality is mentioned as a contrast to the Social Cognitive Perspective.
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The Social Cognitive perspective and Albert Bandura
For more information on Albert Bandura and the Social Cognitive Perspective, see Chapter 5: Learning and Chapter 8: Motivation and Emotion.
Reciprocal Determinism
For example: Playing basketball (a behavior) leads to thinking about basketball, which in turn may lead to playing basketball. Seeing a basketball (in the environment) leads to thinking about basketball, which in turn increases the chances of noticing people playing basketball. Playing basketball may lead to environmental rewards, which in turn reinforce basketball playing. All three elements—behavior, thought, and environment—take turns influencing or being influenced by each other.
Cognitive factor I don’t think I can learn to play a musical instrument
Behavior factor I don’t play any musical instruments.
Environmental factor I avoid situations that require me to display my lack of musical talent.
Strengths and Contributions of the Social Cognitive Perspective
Weaknesses and Problems of the Social Cognitive Perspective
The Trait perspective of personality
There are relatively stable, enduring predispositions to consistently behave in a certain way. The trait approach to personality focuses primarily on individual differences.
Eysenck contends that individual differences arise from biological differences. Introverts require less cortical stimulation and arousal than extroverts to operate efficiently and perform at optimal levels (also see arousal motivation in Chapter 8: Motivation and Emotion).
Sample items from Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism
The Five Factor Model of Personality
Factor Low High
Experience conventional, uncreative
original, creative
prefers routine prefers variety
aimless ambitious quitting persevering
loner joiner quiet talkative
ruthless softhearted suspicious trusting
even tempered, unemotional
temperamental, emotional hardy vulnerable
Strengths and Contributions of the Trait Perspective
Weaknesses of the Trait Perspective
The Major Ego Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanism Explanation Example
Repression Unacceptable or unpleasant impulses are pushed back into the unconscious
A woman is unable to recall that she was raped
Displacement The expression of an unwanted feeling or thought is redirected from a more threatening, powerful person to a weaker one
A brother yells at his younger sister after a teacher gives him a bad grade
Sublimation Diversion of unwanted impulses into socially approved thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
A person with strong feelings of aggression becomes a soldier
Rationalization A distortion of reality in which a person justifies what happens (also known as sour grapes)
A person who is passed over for an award says she didn’t really want it in the first place
Projection Attributing unwanted impulses and feelings to someone else
A man who is angry at his father acts lovingly to his father but complains that his father is angry with him
Reaction Formation Thinking or behaving in a way that is the extreme opposite of unacceptable urges or impulses
Threatened by their awakening sexual attraction to girls, adolescent boys often go out of their way to tease and torment adolescent girls
Denial Refusal to accept or acknowledge an anxiety- producing piece of information
A person who is convicted for DUI three times this year denies that he has a problem with alcohol.
Undoing A form of unconscious repentance that involves neutralizing or atoning for an unacceptable action or thought with a second action or thought
A woman who gets a tax refund by cheating on her taxes makes a larger than usual donation to the church collection on the following Sunday
Regression People behave as if they were at an earlier stage of development
A boss has a temper tantrum when an employee makes a mistake
What are examples of behaviors/experiences that are inconsistent with your self-concept that can cause one to use a defense mechanism (and which one)?