Article 

Change Models

Social Cognitive Theory by famed psychologist Bandura is grounded, as the name suggests, in social contexts saying that behaviour is driven by the triad of behaviour, personal, and environmental factors.

This is often known as reciprocal determinism. Environmental factors represent situational influences and environment in which behavior is preformed while personal factors include instincts, drives, traits, and other individual motivational forces.

Cognitive / Personal Factors

  • Knowledge
  • Expectations
  • Attitudes

Behavioural Factors

  • Skills
  • Practice
  • Self-Efficacy

Environmental Factors

  • Social Norms
  • Access in the Community
  • Influence on others

Social Cognitive Theory evolved from Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and he also speaks of  reicnforcement, something that will enable the behaviour to continue or become stronger and also the potential need for incentives (which help to boost expectations). In learning contexts he also noted the case of obervational learning whereby we learn just from observation.

Summary

This is another three-factor model which includes similar elements to other models and shows their interactions. Interventions would therefore need to focus on which if these need to change and how this coudl happen.

Simple Takeaways

    • Behaviour is driven by cognitive/personal, environmental, and behavioural factors
    • This helps you describe behaviour and guide interventions

© leading brains 2022

Reference

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action : a social cognitive theory / Albert Bandura. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1986, 16(1).

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