59.1 – Identify the psychologist who first proposed the social-cognitive perspective, and describe how social-cognitive theorists view personality development. The social-cognitive approach explains personality by showing how conscious thoughts influence a person’s actions, and vice versa. Specifically, social-cognitive theorists believed personality to be the interaction of cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Social-Cognitive Perspective: views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people’s traits (including their thinking) and their social context.   Behavioral Approach: this perspective focuses on the effects of learning on our personality.

59.1 – Identify the psychologist who first proposed the social-cognitive perspective, and describe how social-cognitive theorists view personality development. 1) Julian Rotter Julian Rotter believed that people’s expectations shape behavior and personality. He described those expectations as either internal or external factors or internal or external locus of control. With internal locus of control, a person believes he or she could control environmental influences. For example, a person making an effort to prepare for an exam would illustrate an internal locus of control because the person can control his or her level of effort. With external locus of control, a person believes that he or she cannot control environmental factors. For example, no matter how hard this person prepares for the exam, he or she cannot control what types of questions will be asked.

59.1 – Identify the psychologist who first proposed the social-cognitive perspective, and describe how social-cognitive theorists view personality development. 2) Albert Bandura Albert Bandura believed that personality is the results of the interaction between thoughts, behavior, and environmental situations. He called the way in which these factors constantly influence each other reciprocal determinism. For example, environmental factors affect the way you think (cognition), which affects the way you act (behavior). A person who finds a class very interesting (environmental) will think more effectively (cognition) and act more appropriately in the class (behavioral). Another example might be to think about an AP classroom. The environment of an AP classroom tends to be more rigorous and demanding, which affects the way a student acts (behavior) and thinks (cognition). Bandura also emphasized the importance of self- efficacy beliefs, expectations that play a role in how a person behaves or act. For example, people with high self-efficacy will have confidence in their abilities and skills and will feel that they can effectively solve problems. Those with low self-efficacy will be far less confident of their abilities. As another example, if a student believes that he or she could be successful in an AP course, then that student is going to make a good effort. However, if a student does not think he or she will do well, he or she may quickly give up trying.

59.1 – Identify the psychologist who first proposed the social-cognitive perspective, and describe how social-cognitive theorists view personality development.

59.1 – Identify the psychologist who first proposed the social-cognitive perspective, and describe how social-cognitive theorists view personality development. Optimism vs. Pessimism an optimistic or pessimistic attributional style is your way of explaining positive or negative events. success requires enough optimism to provide hope and enough pessimism to prevent complacency.   Positive Psychology (Martin Seligman) the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

59.2 – Describe how social-cognitive researchers explore behavior, and state the criticism they have faced. Assessing Behavior in Situations social-cognitive psychologists observe people in realistic and simulated situations because they find that it is the best way to predict behavior of others in similar situations. as long as the person and the situation remain the same, the best predictor of future job performance, grades, etc, is past behavior.

59.5 – Discuss how individualist and collectivist cultures influence people.

59.3 – Explain why psychology has generated so much research on the self, and discuss the importance of self-esteem to psychology and to human well-being. Exploring the Self self: in contemporary psychology assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. research on the self has revealed the spotlight effect – overestimating our concern that others evaluate our appearance, performance, and blunders.

59.3 – Explain why psychology has generated so much research on the self, and discuss the importance of self-esteem to psychology and to human well-being. Benefits of Self-Esteem self-esteem: one’s feelings of high or low self-worth. self-efficacy: one’s sense of competence and effectiveness. Maslow and Rogers argued that a successful life results from a healthy self-image (self-esteem). when self-esteem is deflated, we view ourselves and others critically.

59.4 – Discuss some evidence for self-serving bias, and contrast defensive and secure self-esteem. self-serving bias: our readiness to perceive ourselves favorably. we accept responsibility for good deeds and successes more that for bad deeds and failures. most people see themselves as better than average. we see ourselves as more immune than others to self-serving bias. narcissism: excessive self-love and self-absorption.

59.5 – Discuss how individualist and collectivist cultures influence people. Culture and the Self individualistic cultures tend to value personal independence and individual achievement. they define identity in terms of self-esteem, personal goals, and personal rights and responsibilities. collectivist cultures tend to value interdependence, tradition, and harmony. they define identity in terms of group goals, commitments, and belonging to one’s group.

59.5 – Discuss how individualist and collectivist cultures influence people. Evaluation of the Social-Cognitive Approach  An advantage of the social-cognitive perspective is that it includes cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors in describing personality. This perspective has been used to help understand how social circumstances influence thought processes and the way a person acts; for example, how does media violence influence children’s thoughts and behavior? A disadvantage of this approach is that it does not discuss how the unconscious affects personality.