The Social-Cognitive Perspective Module 59

Social-Cognitive Perspective Albert Bandura (1925- ) Emphasizes interaction of our traits with our situations Must consider the situation and thoughts before, during, and after an event How do your thoughts, behaviors & environment influence your personality?

Social Cognitive differs from other Perspectives in Three Ways: 1.It relies heavily on experimental findings 2.It emphasizes conscious, self-regulating behavior 3.It emphasizes that our sense of self (personality) can vary, depending on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a given situation.

Reciprocal Determinism: Three Factors Shape Personality An interaction of three factors: –The environment –Behaviors & experiences –Thoughts or cognitions We develop personality by choosing which environment to be in, which exposes us to certain situations, which in turn leads us make certain choices, which leads us to choose an environment…

Reciprocal Determinism

Reciprocal Determinism Example

Reciprocal Determinism: Learned Helplessness The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated bad events Martin Seligman studied dogs that were unable to escape a painful stimulus and eventually stopped trying to escape.

Learned Helplessness Reciprocal Determinism

Personality is Studied at Multiple Levels

Cognitive Influences on Personality: Attributional Style Personal Control – Who is in control? –Us or the Environment? Pessimistic – Expect bad things to happen. –Attribute poor performance to lack of ability/internal factors Optimistic – Expect good things to happen. –Attribute poor performance to external factors

Pessimistic vs Optimistic

Combating Pessimism: So you failed the test… How you think about it matters… Alternative Seeking – Develop an alternative explanation that is more optimistic Evidence Seeking – Cite evidence that disputes negative thoughts like, “I’m stupid.” De-Catastrophizing – Come up with reasons why this is not the “End of the world.”

Too Much Optimism? Realistic Anxiety over possible future failures can motivate us to act to avoid it. –Study to avoid failing a test. –Success requires enough optimism to believe your studying will work but also enough pessimism to prevent complacency Excessive Optimism blinds us to real risks –We become more impulsive assuming bad things won’t happen to us (unprotected sex won’t result in VD or pregnancy) –Illusory Optimism about our Groups – This is the Year the Lions will win the Super Bowl!

Blind to One’s Incompetence Dunning-Kruger Effect “Illusory Superiority” People who are bad at something often think they are good at it. Ignorance of what they don’t know allows them to stay confident in their own abilities.

Evaluation of Social Cognitive Perspective Well grounded in empirical, laboratory research However, laboratory experiences are rather simple and may not reflect the complexity of human interactions Too much focus on situation – doesn’t focus enough on the influences of unconscious motives, emotions & traits

Freud vs. Bandura on Human Aggression Freud – Human aggression is a universal unconscious instinct controlled by the superego and restraints of society. Bandura – All behavior is driven by conscious goals and motives. Aggression is the result of a deliberate, rational choice in a particular situation.

Positive Psychology Martin Seligman’s new school of psychology that seeks to study what is right with people (their strengths & virtues). Scientifically studies… –Positive Well-Being – ways to increase happiness –Positive Health – how positive emotions enhance physical well-being –Positive Neuroscience – biological foundations of positive emotions, resilience & social behavior –Positive Education – best ways to increase student engagement, resilience, character, optimism, sense of meaning