The Social-Cognitive Approach to Personality FQ: How do psychologists from the Social-Cognitive approach explain personality?

The Theory: Unlike the psychosocial theory and trait theory which take no account to for individual choice, the social-cognitive approach argues that our personality is a process of thinking and behavior that are learned We behave a certain way because of what we have observed

Skinner and Functional Analysis: Psychologist BF Skinner claimed that we would evaluate what to do in a situation in order to gain rewards or avoid punishment Over time, these decisions would form our personality

Rotter’s Expectancy Theory: Julian Rotter described people as having two types of personalities Internals believe that what happens is due to their own efforts and decisions Externals believe that what happens is based on factors outside their control -it is karma or luck

Bandura and Reciprocal Determinism: Albert Bandura believed that people’s personalities were shaped by thoughts, behavior, and the environment People might do one thing in a situation that they may not in another. He called this self-efficacy