Name
Capella University
PSYC FPX 3540
Prof. Name
December, 2024
Theories Application Exercise
Concept of Theory
The theory is a well-coordinated set of analyses used to interpret and predict events and trends through the formulation of essays, observations, or experiments. It offers a conceptual map to organize knowledge about a particular topic area to arrive at coherent explanations (Richards et al., 2020). Theories are important in the social sciences as they explain the behavior patterns, motivations, and interactions that enable social scientists to offer solutions in practice. They assist researchers and practitioners in capturing trends and probable consequences and designing solutions for issues. Also, theories are continually being developed and modified given new evidence and insights and are therefore valuable instrumentality for the growth of knowledge and finding solutions to issues or challenges across diverse fields of human endeavor.
Social Cognitive Theory
Social Cognitive Theory more popularly known by the acronym SCT proposes and elucidates the reciprocal relation of individual characteristics, behaviors, and external context as defined by the founder Albert Bandura. It supposes that people not only acquire knowledge from their practice but also the experience of others and the outcome of their activity (Richards et al., 2020). These fields consist of observational learning, perceived self-ability, bidirectional interdependence, and reinforcement. SCT points out that of the main elements influencing behavior, reinforcement of behavior and imitation are the most powerful, as people tend to emulate behavior observed in other people or groups we identify as similar to ours. This theory also draws a focus on the internal organization of a person and his/her environment stressing the fact that change can happen in any of the parts of this triadic model. SCT is used in practice in various fields – in education and healthcare, and in the study of organizational behavior, to affect learning, motivation, and behavior change positively.
Real-World Example
Let’s look at a healthy workplace initiative that is a physical activity intervention for employees at the workplace (Scott et al., 2024). Through SCT, the organization creates a bottom-up intervention whereby employees get to see their peers as active during the break, jogging, and stretching. Win strips, and success stories through posters and testimonials the third aspect increases self-efficacy, and the fourth includes reinforcement through gimmicks like free gym memberships for the first few months of the next year. Other calculated fitness activities such as healthy step challenges and group exercises help encourage conformity to fitness programs while strengthening the corporate community feeling. In the long run, this model fosters a culture of well-being, which acts as a strong foundation for the positive adoption of health-promoting behaviors.
Video Example
Video Name: “‘Building Confidence through Observational Learning” (a sample story used for illustration).
Summary of Video
Several learners who are shown in the video suffer from shyness and anxiety when speaking in public (AlHarbi, 2022). To counter this, a peer who appears assured and qualified is brought in to model good speaking posture, the right gestures, eye contact, and proper handling of anxiety through breathing. The students get to see these techniques in practice as the author details some of them in a classroom context. By observing their fellow mate, the students come to appreciate and probably memorize the various skills needed to do a good job of public speaking. The participants are then allowed some time for rehearsal, with the intent to imitate those behaviors modeled in a non-evaluative setting. The teacher and classmates also have a very important role in giving feedback and motivating, which also can act as a rewarding mechanism. This reinforcement enhances not only the self-efficacy of the students, which enables them to be confident in their potential to enhance their performance and succeed in oral presentations.
It is for this reason that the narrative can be used to show how Social Cognitive Theory works, starting with observational learning (AlHarbi , 2022). This shows the tendency of viewers to view the actions of a tangible and believable model worth emulating. Further, the repetition of the knowledge through feedback and developing a friendly space results in increasing students’ willingness to practice for the improvement of their skills. This process over the period turns the students’ shame of speaking in public to positive learning and capability into work, which explains how SCT brings about specific behavioral change and skills within its practical field.
Applying the Concept/Theory
Concerning Social Cognitive Theory this example could be well implemented in the learning environment to foster learning (Palenzuela et al., 2022). Student tutors can be arranged by teachers to teach fellow students how to write notes properly, think critically, or solve a problem as a form of student modeling. These behaviors are observed by other students and the learners are given incentives to apply such measures when they are learning. Such a system of observation ensures that the observers and the role models both get value from the exercise, mainly because of the constant peer-coaching that is involved in the process. Seeing classmates succeed increases the self-efficacy of those other actors since they get to see and believe that they too can achieve similar success given their effort. These sessions also encourage interaction as students will want to learn that they can achieve these tasks as they can relate to the examples given.
Through positive reinforcement in the form of positive words, certificates, or other rewards given to the children in the class, teachers ensure that the good behaviors in the class are repeatable. This builds encouragement on effort and improves achievement which in return creates a positive reinforcement in efforts and achievements. In the long run, the classroom environment fosters strong cross-interaction that makes the classroom a positive culture in which the students not only gain improvement academically but also the self-confidence to do their best as depicted by SCT.
PSYC FPX 3540 assessment 1 References
Richards, J. B., Hayes, M. M., & Schwartzstein, R. M. (2020). Teaching clinical reasoning and critical thinking: from cognitive theory to practical application. Chest, 158(4), 1617–1628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.05.525
Scott, W. D., Cervone, D., & Ebiringah, O. U. (2024). The social-cognitive clinician: On the implications of social cognitive theory for psychotherapy and assessment. International Journal of Psychology: Journal International De Psychologie, 59(5), 616–623. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13125
AlHarbi N. (2022). Self-Esteem: A Concept Analysis. Nursing Science Quarterly, 35(3), 327–331. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184221092447
Palenzuela, N., Duarte, G., Gómez, J., Rodríguez, J. Á., & Sánchez, M. B. (2022). International Comparison of Self-Concept, Self-Perception and Lifestyle in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. International journal of public health, 67, 1604954. https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604954