Social Cognitive Theory

Social Cognitive Theory

Nowadays, many people both young and old tend to engage in health compromising behaviors. Some of which include: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, smoking, and the specific topic interest condom use, or maybe in this case condom non-use. From these particular behaviors a question poses: Why do people engage in health compromising behaviors? There are in fact many theories or processes that can give explanations to this particular question. One theory that can be related to this specific question is the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT).

Dr. Albert Bandura originated social Cognitive Theory in the early 1960's. It actually stems from the Social Learning Theory. It has origins in the discipline of psychology, with its early foundation being laid by behavioral and social psychologists. There are three main purposes for this theory: (1) to understand and predict individual and group behavior, (2) to identify methods in which behavior can be modified or changed, and (3) to be used in interventions aimed at personality development, behavior pathology, and health promotion (Stone, 1998).

There are six major concepts that are incorporated into the SCT. (Stone, 1998). The first concept that is discussed is reciprocal determinism. The concept implies that a person's behavior will determine the aspects of their environment to which they are expose, and behavior is, in turn, modified by that environment. So…depending on the environment that the individual is in, it will determine what type of behavior will be performed. In the scenario, that particular environment will most likely predict what will happen next. They have been inseparable for the past six months. The second concept that is mentioned is sym...

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...d theory in determining some behaviors, it cannot answer all of the questions. This particular scenario happens to be one of them. With this scenario, too much has to happen, as far as cognitive processes, before the behavior to occur. At times, especially like the scenario, it is very difficult to incorporate all important concepts, BEFORE the behavior occurs. Most times it is after that one thinks of all of the aspects. Perhaps there is another theory which can explain this behavior.

Bibliography:

Bibliography

O'Leary, Ann., The National Inst of Mental Health Multisute. Health Psychology, 2001. 20,

369-376.

Stone, D. & Brown, K. Social Cognitive Theory Overview. 11 January 1999 [last update]

11/21/01

Wulfert, E. Wan, C. Condom use: A self-efficacy model. Health Psychology, 1993. 12,

346-353.