BANDURA: SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY Flashcards
What is the core assumption of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory?
People learn through observing the behavior of others, without needing to perform the behavior themselves.
How does Bandura’s view of learning differ from Skinner’s?
Unlike Skinner, Bandura believes reinforcement is not necessary for learning, though it can facilitate it.
Why is observational learning more efficient than direct experience?
It allows people to avoid making mistakes that might result in punishment or no reinforcement.
What is modeling in observational learning?
The process of adding, subtracting, and generalizing observed behaviors, rather than just mimicking.
What are the three factors that influence whether a person will model a behavior?
- Characteristics of the model (high status, competent, powerful).
- Characteristics of the observer (people with low status, skill, or power are more likely to model).
- Consequences of the modeled behavior (more likely to model if the observed behavior leads to valued outcomes).
What are the four processes that govern observational learning?
Attention, Representation, Behavioral Production, and Motivation
What factors influence attention in observational learning?
- Frequent exposure to the model.
- The attractiveness, popularity, or importance of the model.
- The relevance of the observed behavior.
How does representation influence observational learning?
- Behaviors must be symbolically represented in memory (either visually or verbally).
- Verbal coding enhances learning and allows self-rehearsal.
What are the three key steps in behavioral production?
- Asking, “How can I do this?” (symbolic rehearsal).
- Performing the behavior and monitoring oneself.
- Evaluating the behavior’s accuracy.
How does motivation affect observational learning?
Without motivation, learned behaviors may not be performed, even if they were acquired through observation.
What is enactive learning?
: Learning through direct experience by evaluating and thinking about the consequences of behavior
What are the three functions of response consequences in enactive learning?
- Informing future behavior based on past outcomes.
- Motivating anticipatory behavior (e.g., dressing warmly for cold weather).
- Reinforcing behavior to encourage its repetition
What are the two major types of learning in Bandura’s theory?
Observational learning (learning through modeling) and enactive learning (learning through experience).
How does Bandura view the role of cognition in learning?
He emphasizes cognitive involvement in learning situations, arguing that understanding the context of behaviors enhances learning.
What is the key element that allows individuals to control their behavior?
A reciprocal interaction between person variables, behavior, and environment.
Observational Learning
Learning by observing others without directly performing the behavior.
Bandura vs skinner
Skinner emphasized enactive learning (learning by doing).
Bandura emphasized that learning can occur without reinforcement.
Modeling
he process of learning behaviors by observing and imitating others.
Modeling is NOT mere imitation
- It involves cognitive processing, generalization, and modification.
- Requires mental representation and storage for later use.
Characteristics of the Observer
People with low status, skill, or power model more.
Children and novices model more than experts.
Factors Influencing Modeling
- Characteristics of the Model
- Characteristics of the Observer
- Consequences of the Modeled Behavior
Characteristics of the Model
More likely to model high-status, competent, and powerful people.
Consequences of the Modeled Behavio
Reinforcement & Punishment matter.
Observing severe punishment can discourage behavior.
Processes Governing Observational Learning
- Attention
- Representation
- Behavioral Production
- Motivation
Attention
Observing a model depends on:
1. Frequency of association with the model.
- Attractiveness of the model.
- Relevance & importance of behavior.
Representation
Memory storage of observed behavior.
1. Symbolic representation (mental imagery & verbal coding).
- Verbal coding speeds learning & aids retention.
Behavioral Production
Performing the behavior.
Steps:
1. “How can I do this?” (Cognitive rehearsal)
- “What am I doing?” (Monitoring)
- “Am I doing this right?” (Self-evaluation)
- Motor skills need extra feedback (e.g., video recordings).
Motivation
The desire to perform the observed behavior.
Learning ≠ Performance unless motivation exists.
Enactive Learning
Learning by doing, with direct experience of consequences.
Functions of Response Consequences
- Informational Function – Teach what works & what doesn’t.
- Motivational Function – Shape behavior based on expected outcomes.
- Reinforcement Function – Similar to Skinner’s reinforcement, but Bandura emphasizes cognitive involvement.
Triadic Reciprocal Causation
Behavior results from interactions between three factors:
1. Behavior (B)
2. Environment (E)
3. Person (P) – Cognitive & Physical Factors
- Thought, memory, judgment, anticipation.
- Also includes gender, social role, attractiveness, etc.
Reciprocal Interaction
- Behavior influences environment & cognition.
- Environment influences behavior & cognition.
- Cognition influences behavior & environment.
Chance Encounter
An unintended meeting between people who were previously unfamiliar.
Fortuitous Event
An unexpected and unintended environmental experience.
Impact on Human Behavior- Baandura view
- People are not completely in control of their lives since unpredictable events can occur.
- Fortuity adds unpredictability to human behavior, making precise predictions impossible.
- However, chance does not operate independently—it enters through the triadic reciprocal causation model as part of the environment (E).
How Chance Encounters Fit into Triadic Reciprocal Causation
- Environment (E): A random event occurs.
- Behavior (B): The person responds to the situation.
- Person (P): The individual’s cognition, attitudes, and past experiences influence how they react.
Can People Control Chance?
Chance is Not Entirely Uncontrollable
People can create opportunities by putting themselves in situations where chance encounters are likely.
Avoiding Negative Chance Events
People can also minimize unwanted fortuitous events by anticipating risks and taking precautions.
Chance Encounters & Fortuitous Events
- Chance encounters & fortuitous events shape life significantly.
- Once a chance event occurs, behavior and cognition influence its impact.
- People can create their own chances by seeking opportunities.
- Prepared individuals can turn unexpected events into advantages.
- Avoiding risks is also part of controlling chance encounters.
How do chance encounters influence human behavior?
They enter the triadic reciprocal causation paradigm at the environmental (E) point, influencing behavior through mutual interaction with personal factors and actions.
What is human agency according to Bandura (2001)
the capacity of humans to exercise control over their lives through self-regulation, proactiveness, self-reflection, and self-organization.
What are the four core features of human agency?
- Intentionality – The proactive commitment to bringing plans into action.
- Forethought – The ability to set goals and anticipate consequences.
- Self-reactiveness – Regulating one’s behavior to achieve goals.
- Self-reflectiveness – Evaluating one’s motivations, values, and effectiveness.
What is self-reactiveness?
The ability to choose actions, monitor progress, and adjust behavior to achieve desired outcomes.
How does forethought help in human agency?
It enables people to set goals and avoid being controlled entirely by environmental stimuli
What is self-reflectiveness?
The ability to examine one’s own functioning, motivations, and beliefs about their effectiveness
Define self-efficacy according to Bandura
People’s beliefs in their capability to exercise control over their own functioning and environmental events.
What are the key determinants of self-efficacy?
Self-efficacy is influenced by personal beliefs, prior experiences, environmental conditions, and outcome expectations.
What is the difference between efficacy expectations and outcome expectations?
Efficacy expectation – Confidence in one’s ability to perform a task.
Outcome expectation – Prediction of the likely consequences of that action.
How does self-efficacy differ from self-esteem?
Self-efficacy is situation-specific, while self-esteem is a general sense of self-worth.
how does self-efficacy influence behavior?
- High self-efficacy + Responsive environment → Success
- Low self-efficacy + Responsive environment → Depression (seeing others succeed while struggling)
- High self-efficacy + Unresponsive environment → Increased effort or activism
- Low self-efficacy + Unresponsive environment → Apathy and helplessness
: What are the four sources of self-efficacy?
Mastery experiences
Social modeling
Social persuasion
Physical and emotional states
What is the most influential source of self-efficacy?
Mastery experiences (past performances) are the most influential
How does successful performance impact self-efficacy?
: Success raises efficacy expectancies, while failure lowers them
What are the six corollaries of mastery experiences?
Success increases self-efficacy in proportion to task difficulty.
Tasks accomplished alone enhance efficacy more than those done with help.
Failure lowers efficacy more when effort was maximized.
Failure under high emotional distress is less damaging than failure under normal conditions.
Failure before mastery is more detrimental than failure after mastery.
Occasional failure has little effect on those with a generally high success expectancy.
What is social modeling?
Observing others succeed or fail influences self-efficacy.
When does social modeling enhance self-efficacy?
When the observer perceives the model as similar in competence.
When does social modeling have little effect?
When the observed model is highly dissimilar to the observer.
How does social modeling impact inefficacy?
Seeing a peer fail can lower self-efficacy, and such effects may last a lifetime.
What is social persuasion?
Self-efficacy can be influenced by encouragement or discouragement from others.
What are the conditions for effective social persuasion
The persuader must be credible.
The activity should be within the individual’s capability.
Status and authority of the persuader influence effectiveness.
Persuasion is most effective when combined with successful performance.
How do emotions affect self-efficacy?
High emotional arousal (fear, stress, anxiety) lowers self-efficacy.
what three factors determine the impact of emotional arousal on self-efficacy?
Level of arousal: Higher arousal usually lowers self-efficacy.
Perceived realism of arousal: If fear is justified (e.g., icy road driving), it may enhance self-efficacy.
Nature of the task: Arousal can improve simple tasks but hinder complex ones.
When can emotional arousal increase self-efficacy?
Moderate arousal can enhance performance in some situations, like stage acting.
proxy agency?
Relying on others (experts, leaders) to act on one’s behalf.
What is collective efficacy?
A group’s shared belief in its ability to produce desired outcomes.
How does collective efficacy affect performance?
Groups with high collective efficacy are more motivated and persistent in overcoming obstacles.
Mastery Experiences
Past performance determines self-efficacy. Success raises self-efficacy, while failure lowers it.
Social Modeling
Observing successful individuals of equal competence enhances self-efficacy; seeing failure decreases it.
Social Persuasion
Encouragement from credible sources can boost self-efficacy, but only if the task is within one’s capability.
Physical and Emotional State
Intense emotions (fear, stress) often lower self-efficacy, but moderate arousal can enhance performance in simple tasks.
Mastery Experiences – Corollaries
Difficult tasks: Greater difficulty = higher self-efficacy upon success.
Self-accomplished vs. Helped: Tasks done alone increase self-efficacy more than those done with help.
Failure and effort: Failure lowers self-efficacy more when maximum effort was put in.
Failure in distress vs. normal conditions: Failure under distress is less damaging than under normal conditions.
Failure before vs. after mastery: Early failure is more harmful than failure after achieving mastery.
Occasional failure: Minimal effect on individuals with generally high self-efficacy.
Social Modeling
More effective when the model is similar to the observer.
Watching peers succeed raises self-efficacy, while seeing them fail lowers it.
Vicarious experiences are weaker than personal mastery but still impactful
Social Persuasion
Conditions for effectiveness: Persuader must be credible.
Works best when combined with mastery experiences.
High-status individuals (psychotherapists, experts) have more influence than lower-status persuaders.
Two Ways to Measure Collective Efficacy:
Sum of individual confidence: Each member’s belief in their ability to contribute to the group’s goal.
Belief in group capability: Confidence in the group’s overall ability, even if individual confidence is low.
Physical and Emotional States
Strong emotions (fear, anxiety) reduce self-efficacy.
Moderate arousal can enhance performance.
Realistic vs. irrational fears: Realistic fears (e.g., driving on ice) can sometimes boost efficacy.
Task complexity: High arousal impairs complex tasks but may help simple tasks.
Downsides of Proxy Agency:
Over-reliance weakens personal and collective efficacy.
Spouses may become dependent on each other.
Young adults may delay independence.
Citizens may rely too much on government rather than taking initiative.
Factors Influencing Collective Efficacy:
Depends on both individual skills and belief in teamwork.
Can be high in personal efficacy but low in collective efficacy (e.g., a woman confident in maintaining personal health but not in reducing pollution).
What is self-regulation according to Bandura (1994)?
Self-regulation is the ability to control one’s behavior using reactive and proactive strategies. Reactive strategies reduce discrepancies between accomplishments and goals, while proactive strategies set new and higher goals.
Challenges to Collective Efficacy:
Global Interdependence: Issues like climate change and trade policies create a sense of helplessness.
Technological Complexity: Advanced technologies reduce people’s confidence in managing their own lives.
Bureaucracy: Layers of social systems slow down change, leading to discouragement.
Scale of Global Problems: Wars, natural disasters, and overpopulation can undermine belief in collective action.
How do people guide their actions through proactive control?
People set valued goals that create a state of disequilibrium and then mobilize their abilities and efforts based on an anticipatory estimation of what is required to reach those goals.
What are the two ways external factors affect self-regulation?
Providing standards for evaluating behavior (e.g., social norms, learned values).
Offering reinforcement or incentives for behavior (e.g., rewards, praise, or environmental consequences).
What are the three internal factors in self-regulation according to Bandura
Self-observation – Monitoring one’s own behavior.
Judgmental processes – Evaluating behavior based on standards.
Self-reaction – Responding positively or negatively based on performance.
How does self-observation contribute to self-regulation?
it allows individuals to selectively monitor aspects of their behavior based on interests and self-conceptions, influencing self-improvement efforts.
How does performance attribution impact self-regulation?
If success is attributed to effort, individuals take pride and work harder. If failure is attributed to uncontrollable external factors, motivation declines.
What four elements influence judgmental processes in self-regulation?
Personal standards – Evaluating without comparing to others.
Referential performances – Comparing to external standards or peers.
Valuation of activity – Importance placed on a task.
Performance attribution – Beliefs about the causes of success or failure.
How do self-mediated consequences differ from Skinner’s behaviorist approach?
Bandura suggests people regulate behavior through self-produced rewards (e.g., pride, self-satisfaction), while Skinner emphasizes externally determined reinforcements.
What role does self-reaction play in self-regulation?
: People regulate their behavior by rewarding themselves for meeting personal standards (self-reinforcement) or punishing themselves when failing to meet those standards (self-criticism).
What are the two aspects of moral agency in self-regulation?
Doing no harm to others.
Proactively helping others.
What does Bandura mean by selective activation of moral behavior?
Moral values influence behavior only when actively engaged. People may disengage from moral standards depending on the situation
How do people justify immoral actions according to Bandura?
By using disengagement techniques such as moral justification, advantageous comparisons, euphemistic labeling, minimizing consequences, dehumanizing victims, or diffusing responsibility.
Definition of Self-Regulation
Self-regulation refers to the ability to regulate one’s own behavior using reactive and proactive strategies to achieve goals.
What are the two types of self-regulation strategies?
Reactive self-regulation reduces discrepancies between goals and accomplishments, while proactive self-regulation involves setting higher goals after achieving previous ones.
What are the key processes involved in self-regulation?
(1) Limited control over external factors
(2) Monitoring and evaluating one’s behavior,
(3) Reciprocal influence of external and internal factors.
How do external factors contribute to self-regulation?
External factors provide standards for evaluating behavior and incentives for reinforcement.
What are the three internal factors in self-regulation?
(1) Self-observation
(2) Judgmental processes
(3) Self-reaction.
What is self-observation in self-regulation?
Monitoring one’s behavior selectively based on interests and self-conceptions.
What are the four elements of judgmental processes in self-regulation?
(1) Personal standards
(2) Referential comparisons
(3) Valuation of activity
(4) Performance attribution.
How does self-reaction regulate behavior?
Through self-reinforcement (pride and satisfaction) or self-punishment (self-criticism).
What are the two aspects of moral agency?
(1) Avoiding harm to others, (2) Proactively helping others.
What is selective activation?
The process of activating moral self-regulation only in specific situations.
How do people disengage from internal moral control?
By justifying their actions to minimize responsibility.
What are three techniques for redefining behavior?
(1) Moral justification
(2) Advantageous comparison
(3) Euphemistic labeling.
What are three ways people distort consequences?
(1) Minimizing consequences, (2) Ignoring consequences, (3) Distorting consequences.
How does advantageous comparison work?
Comparing one’s behavior to worse actions by others to justify it.
What is euphemistic labeling?
Using indirect or softened language to describe harmful actions (e.g., “revenue enhancement” instead of taxes).
What is moral justification?
The process of making harmful behavior seem noble or necessary
How does dehumanization enable harmful behavior?
It makes victims seem less human, reducing guilt for harming them.
What is displacement of responsibility?
Shifting blame onto an external authority or person.
What is diffusion of responsibility?
Spreading responsibility across a group to minimize individual accountability
Triadic Reciprocal Causation
Behavior is learned through interaction between:
1. The person (cognition, neurophysiological processes)
- The environment (interpersonal relations, socioeconomic conditions)
- Behavioral factors (past reinforcement experiences)
Dysfunctional behavior follows the same process.
Three Self-Regulatory Subfunctions Contributing to Depression:
Self-observation – Misjudging own performance or distorting memory of past successes/failures.
Judgmental Processes – Setting unrealistic goals and perceiving success as failure.
Self-reactions – Harsh self-criticism and self-punishment.
Depression
Occurs when individuals set unrealistically high personal standards and fail to achieve them.
Leads to feelings of worthlessness and chronic misery.
Phobias Acquired through
Direct Contact – Personal traumatic experiences.
Inappropriate Generalization – Applying fear to similar situations.
Observational Learning – Learning fears by seeing others’ reactions.
Phobias
Intense, irrational fears that significantly impact daily life.
Maintained through avoidance behavior (negative reinforcement).
Media plays a role in reinforcing societal fears (e.g., crime reports increasing fear of assault).
aggression is maintained by
Enjoying inflicting harm (positive reinforcement).
Avoiding harm from others (negative reinforcement).
Fear of punishment for non-aggression.
Personal standards that justify aggression.
Observing others being rewarded for aggression
Aggression Learned through
Observational learning (watching others be aggressive).
Direct reinforcement (reward for aggression).
Instruction/training.
Bizarre beliefs (false justifications for aggression)
Bobo Doll Experiment (Bandura, Ross & Ross, 1963)
- Studied the impact of observational learning on aggression.
- Three experimental groups observed different types of aggression:
(a) Live Model – Watched a real person act aggressively.
(b) Filmed Model – Watched aggression on film.
(c) Cartoon Model – Watched an aggressive cartoon character. - A control group was not exposed to any aggression.
- Findings:
(a) Children exposed to aggression displayed twice as much aggression as the control group.
(b) No significant difference between live, filmed, or cartoon models.
(c) Aggressive behavior was mimicked closely, disproving the idea that TV violence has a “cathartic effect.”
(d) Contributed to the debate on media violence influencing real-life aggression.
What is redefinition of behavior
A cognitive restructuring process that allows individuals to justify reprehensible actions and minimize or escape responsibility.
What are the three techniques used in redefinition of behavior
Moral Justification: Framing wrongful acts as noble or defensible (e.g., Sergeant Alvin York in WWI).
Advantageous or Palliative Comparisons: Comparing one’s actions to worse atrocities to justify them.
Euphemistic Labels: Using language to soften the perception of actions (e.g., “revenue enhancement” instead of “tax increase”)
What are the three techniques used to distort consequences
Minimizing Consequences: Downplaying the impact of one’s actions.
Ignoring Consequences: Avoiding direct exposure to harm caused.
Distorting Consequences: Justifying harm as necessary for a greater good
What is victim blaming?
Holding victims responsible for the harm they suffered (e.g., blaming rape victims for their attire).
What is displacement of responsibility?
Shifting blame onto authority figures or external forces (e.g., “I was just following orders”
What is dehumanization?
Viewing victims as subhuman to justify mistreatment (e.g., wartime propaganda).
What is diffusion of responsibility?
Spreading blame among a group to avoid individual accountability (e.g., bureaucratic excuses).
What are the three components of Bandura’s triadic reciprocal causation?
Person: Cognitive and neurophysiological processes.
Environment: Social and economic conditions.
Behavioral Factors: Past reinforcement experiences.
What are the three self-regulatory subfunctions linked to depression?
Self-Observation: Distorted memory of past accomplishments.
Judgmental Processes: Unrealistically high self-standards leading to failure perception.
Self-Reactions: Harsh self-criticism and punishment.
How are phobias learned?
Direct Contact: Experiencing traumatic events.
Inappropriate Generalization: Associating fear with unrelated situations.
Observational Learning: Media-induced fear (e.g., violent news coverage).
How is aggression acquired
Observational Learning: Watching others be aggressive.
Direct Reinforcement: Experiencing rewards for aggression.
Instruction & Training: Learning through teachings.
Bizarre Beliefs: Justifying aggression through distorted reasoning.
What are Bandura’s therapeutic approaches?
Overt/Vicarious Modeling: Watching a live or filmed model perform an action.
Covert/Cognitive Modeling: Mentally visualizing a model performing a feared action.
Enactive Mastery: Directly practicing feared actions.
Systematic Desensitization: Gradual exposure while maintaining relaxatio
what are the three levels of therapy success?
Inducing Change: Eliminating a specific dysfunctional behavior.
Generalizing Change: Applying the change across different contexts.
Maintaining Change: Preventing relapse.
