Discussion Post: Social-Cognitive Theories
Tony grew up in an impoverished inner-city community. He was raised by a single mother and had to help with his four younger siblings. As he entered his teen years, the difficulties of living and growing up in his neighborhood began to take their toll. He was skipping school and routinely in trouble with the law. Yet a school guidance counselor recognized Tony's innate intelligence, his talent as a leader, and his natural charisma, and intervened on his behalf.
Then what happened to Tony? As you might guess, there are many possible outcomes. Here are two extremes: By the time Tony was 20
... He had graduated with honors from high school and secured a scholarship to attend college. Since receiving his B.S. in Psychology, Tony has entered graduate school and is working toward an M.S. in Human Resource Management. Tony feels excited and hopeful about his future.
... He had been arrested and convicted of leading a car-theft operation, and went to prison. Since serving his time and being released, Tony has been unsuccessful in finding a job. He feels angry and hopeless about his future.
Consider the clues in Tony's story about what you will explore as you examine social-cognitive theories of personality. What role has Tony played in how his life is turning out and how he thinks about his future? What are social influences on Tony, such as where he grew up and the guidance counselor who intervenes? How might a social-cognitive theorist explain these very different outcomes for Tony?
Your work in this final week of the course will offer answers. You will consider distinguishing features of social-cognitive theories of personality and how social origins of behavior and cognitive-or thought-processes can shape a person's development.
Learning Objectives
1) Analyze a personal experience from the perspective of reciprocal determinism
2) Evaluate reciprocal determinism applied to factors that influence personality
3) Apply the theory of behavior modeling to evaluate the impact of television/media viewing
4) Evaluate resources to support a position
5) Evaluate the usefulness and applicability of theories of personality for understanding human behavior
6) Demonstrate an understanding of social-cognitive theories
Discussion Spark
Read the Discussion Spark topic/question or comment posted by your Instructor in the Discussion Thread.
Task: Testing Reciprocal Determinism
Recall the story of Tony from the introduction and consider the principle of reciprocal determinism, which was discussed in the reading. Your course text defines the term as "the mutual, back-and-forth effects of variables on one another; in social-cognitive theory, a fundamental causal principle in which personal, environmental, and behavioral factors are viewed as causally influencing one another" (Cervone & Pervin, 2019, p. 424). How might different personal, environmental, and behavioral factors have causally influenced both the positive and negative outcomes for Tony?
Naturally, it is difficult to answer that question about Tony because you have only so much information about him. However, someone that you know a great deal about is yourself and your own experiences. For this Discussion, you will explore the concept of reciprocal determinism by applying it to an experience in your own life.
Post an explanation that includes the following:
1) Describe an experience in your life that demonstrates the principle of reciprocal determinism. Explain your experience in terms of the interactions of your behaviors, your personality characteristics, and the impact of your environment.
2) Based on your understanding of reciprocal determinism, explain whether your thinking has changed and, if so, how you would amend your Discussion answer. Include your reasoning for keeping the original answer or changing it.
3) What are the most useful concepts that you will take away from this course? How have the concepts helped you in understanding human behavior and, specifically, your relationships with family and friends? How can the concepts contribute to success in your future career?
The response should include a reference list. Using one-inch margins, Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.
Reference
Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
• Cervone, D., & Pervin, L. A. (2019). Personality: Theory and research (14th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
o Chapter 12, "Social-Cognitive Theory: Bandura and Mischel" (pp. 331-360)
o Chapter 13, "Social-Cognitive Theory: Applications, Related Theoretical Conceptions, and Contemporary Research" (pp. 363-393).
Websites
• Boeree, C. G. (2006). Personality theories: Albert Bandura.
Handout
• Walden University. (2016). Suggested resources: Research project: Analyzing effects of media on behavior. Minneapolis, MN: Author.
Optional Resources
• TED (Producer). (2012). David Kelley: How to build your creative confidence [Ted Talk Video].