SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY (ALBERT BANDURA)
Social Cognitive Theory focuses more on the effects that others have on our behavior. The theory explains how people acquire and maintain certain behavioral patterns, while also providing the basis for intervention strategies (Bandura, 1997). Evaluating behavioral change depends on the factors environment, people and behavior. SCT provides a framework for designing, implementing and evaluating programs.
Environment refers to the factors that can affect a person’s behavior. There are social and physical environments. Social environment include family members, friends and colleagues. Physical environment is the size of a room, the ambient temperature or the availability of certain foods. Environment and situation provide the framework for understanding behavior (Parraga, 1990). The situation refers to the cognitive or mental representations of the environment that may affect a person’s behavior. The situation is a person’s perception of the lace, time, physical features and activity (Glanz et al, 2002).
The three factors environment, people and behavior are constantly influencing each other. Behavior is not simply the result of the environment and the person, just as the environment is not simply the result of the person and behavior (Glanz et al, 2002). The environment provides models for behavior. Observational learning occurs when a person watches the actions of another person and the reinforcements that the person receives (Bandura, 1997). The concept of behavior can be viewed in many ways. Behavioral capability means that if a person is to perform a behavior he must know what the behavior is and have the skills to perform it.
The theory is very relevant in our study of Optimism and Perceived Social Support. According to Bandura, Self efficacy means learners self confidence towards learning. People are more likely to engage in certain behaviors when they believe they are capable of implementing those behaviors successfully, this means that they have high self-efficacy.
The four major types of self efficacy according to Bandura are:
1. Mastery experiences
This states that mastering or doing tasks successfully can help in achieving ones goals. The Botolan evacuees will be able to obtain self efficacy if they have learned their lessons and achieved their goals in life even though they had experienced different hardships in life. Being an optimistic individual can overcome all the struggles in life.
2. Social Modeling
People get to learn something if they imitate the works of other people. If the Botolan evacuees, saw someone who is performing tasks efficiently they tend to mimic each other in order to gain self efficacy. The power of positive thinking will much more be effective when someone unlocks creative and attracts successful people.
3. Social Persuasion
Telling someone to perform actions that will help him to perform task will help each one to obtain self efficacy. Encouragement will be a factor. When one of the family members or others encourages someone to do something, he or she tends to do it. This also tends to motivate them. Optimism allows motivation. We are more likely to take action toward a goal if we feel that it is attainable. In contrast, pessimists don't even try.
4. Psychological responses
Albert Bandura said “it is not the sheer intensity of emotional and physical reactions that is important but rather how they are perceived and interpreted." People can improve their self efficacy if they react and interpreted all that is happening to them in a positive manner. They have to accept it thoroughly. There moods, attitudes and stress level can have a great impact on their situation. Through learning to elevate moods and actions, the reactions regard self will be motivated and self efficacy will be achieved. The Botolan evacuees will be more successful in coping up if they responded on something positively. Optimism can help us to sustain a mental focus. We can direct our thoughts toward constructive problem-solving, instead of stagnating in the distractions of pessimism and worry.
The part of the theory that is not relevant in our study is the topic self regulation. Self regulation controls our self. People self-regulate their own actions and behavior by the accuracy and consistency of their self-observation and self-monitoring. Their judgments they make regarding their actions, choices, and attributions. And, the evaluative and tangible reactions they make to their own behavior through the self-regulatory process.
We will not revise the existing model of Social Cognitive Theory. The model is very appropriate in our study.
Personality factors, behavior and environment influence each other. This theory states that people learn through observing others. It talks about how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behaviour. The center of Bandura’s theory is self- efficacy which emphasizes the role of observational learning, social experience, and reciprocal determinism in the development of personality. This theory states that people learn through observing others. Behavioral change depends on the environmental factors. The interaction between the person and behavior involves the influences of a person’s thoughts and actions. The interaction between the person and the environment involves human beliefs and cognitive competencies that are developed and modified by social influences and structures within the environment. The third interaction, between the environment and behavior, involves a person’s behavior determining the aspects of their environment and in turn their behavior is modified by that environment.