Ch.13 Social Cognitive Theory Flashcards
define dysfunctional expectancies
In social-cognitive theory, maladaptive expectations concerning the consequences of specific behaviors.
define Dysfunctional self‐evaluations
In social-cognitive theory, maladaptive standards for self-reward that have important implications for psychopathology.
define Emotion‐focused coping
Coping in which an individual stresses to improve his or her internal emotional state, for example, by emotional distancing or the seeking of social support.
define General principles approach
Higgins’s term for analysis of personality & situational influences on thought/action in which common set of causal principles is used to explain both cross-situational consistency in thought/action that results from personal influences/variability in thought/action that results from situational influences.
define Guided mastery
treatment approach emphasized in social-cognitive theory in which a person is assisted in performing modeled behaviors.
define Implicit theories
Broad, generalized beliefs that we may not be able to state explicitly in words, yet that influence our thinking.
define Knowledge‐and‐appraisal personality architecture or KAPA
Theoretical analysis of personality architecture; distinguishes two aspects of cognition in personality functioning: enduring knowledge and dynamic appraisals of meaning of encounters for self.
define Learning goals
Dweck’s social-cognitive analysis of personality and motivation, a goal of trying to enhance one’s knowledge and personal mastery of a task.
define Performance goals
In Dweck’s social-cognitive analysis of personality and motivation, a goal of trying to make a good impression on other people who may evaluate you.
define Problem‐focused coping
Attempts to cope by altering features of a stressful situation.
define Schemas
Complex cognitive structures that guide information processing.
define Self‐discrepancies
In theoretical analyses of Higgins, incongruities between beliefs about one’s current psychological attributes (the actual self) and desired attributes that represent valued standards or guides.
define Self‐enhancement. What is an example?
motive to maintain or enhance positive views of the self; American idol singers who think they’re amazing when they’re not
define Self‐verification
motive to obtain information that is consistent with one’s self‐concept; can cause dogmatic thinking/lacking psychological flexibility
define Self‐schemas
Cognitive generalizations about the self that guide a person’s information processing.
define Stress inoculation training
procedure to reduce stress developed by Meichenbaum in which clients are taught to become aware of such negative, stress‐inducing cognitions.
define Working self‐concept
subset of the self‐concept that is in working memory at any time; the theoretical idea that different social circumstances may activate different aspects of self‐concept.
define reaction time measures
experiemental methods where experimenter records content of person’s response and how long it takes person to respond
how can self verification show up in negative ways?
cognitive distortions; all or nothing, catastrophic thinking
define entity theory
particular characteristic/trait viewed as fixed
define incremental theory
particular characteristic/trait viewed as open to change
what is the cause of maladaptive behaviour? give an example
results from dysfunctional learning; learned from parents/bad models
eg. conflict avoidance for survival in childhood
what is the result of discrepancies between actual and ideal self?
sadness/depressive symptoms
what is the result of discrepancies between actual and ought self?
agitation/anxiety; social phobias, anxiety disorders
what does Higgins propose about people’s evaluative standards?
people’s evaluative standards have implications for motivation (promotion/prevention approach)
what are the limitations of social cog theory
- distinction b/w structure and process is ambiguous
- measurements don’t always asses both social cog. variables and situations that activate them; varies from person to person
- can’t explain cross- situational variability in trait related behaviour
what are 2 principles that guide search (KAPA model)?
- assess knowledge and appraisal contextually
- be sensitive to idiosyncrasy (describe in own words)
perceived inefficacy plays a central role in…?
Anxiety and depression; cna lead to avoidance and prematurely quitting a task/goal
what techniques are used to increase self efficacy beliefs and reduce risky behaviour?
-modeling
- goal setting
what is the relationship between self efficacy beliefs and immune system functioning?
increases in self efficacy beliefs were associated with increases in enhanced immune system functioning (helper T cells)
people often are biased toward positive views of the self, which can be explained by pointing a…?
self enhancement motive
people may be motivated to experience themselves as being consistent and predictable, reflecting a…?
self- verification motive
What did Meston, Rellini, and Heiman hypothesize about abuse experiences?
may alter self schemas and do so in a long lasting manner
children with what kind of view of intelligence tend to set learning goals?
incremental view of intelligence
How did Tory Higgins expand scope of social cognitive analyses of personality?
by showing how diff types of evaluative standards related to diff types of emotional experiences and motivation
What did Hewitt and colleagues find about perfectionistic standards in people?
made them vulnerable to depression, anxiety, ED
what are limitations/problems to KAPA model?
- cross istuational consistency often low
- even if high, haven’t identified processes that explain consistency
- strategy is not sensitive to idiosyncrasy
What is the antidote to perceived self-inefficacy?
self-compassion; constant re-evaluating of philosophical/ideological assumptions and beliefs
stress is viewed as occurring when…?
the person views circumstances as taxing/exceeding their resources and endangering well-being
What is Ellis’s first thesis?
people do not respond emotionally to events in the world but to their beliefs about those events
what is Ellis’s second thesis?
the beliefs that cause psychological distress are irrational
According to Beck, psychological difficulties are due to?
- automatic thoughts
- dysfunctional assumptions
- negative self- statements
What is the cognitive triad of depression (Beck)?
Negative views of :
- self
- the world
- the future
compared to nondepressed individuals, depressed persons…?
- focused more on themselves
- had more accessible negative self constructs
- bias toward pessimism, particularly concerning self
what is the task of therapy?
effect fundamental change in these cognitions; make person aware of conditions under which they manifest
therapeutic change follows…?
cognitive change
What is the strongest feature of personality psych?
it’s very testable
what are the 4 components of resilience?
- build connections, prioritize relationships
- foster wellness
- find purpose
- embrace healthy thoughts
define resilience
process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult/challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, behavioural flexibility and adjust to external/internal demands
what are the factors affecting resilience?
- perception- how view and engage with world
- belonging and purpose- social resources
- mindfulness and life strategy
