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Social Cognitive Theory
The major premise of social cognitive theory is that human action is caused by three mutually interacting factors: (1) behavior, (2) cognitive and other personal factors, and (3) the person’s external environment. The three factors do not influence each other simultaneously or with equal strength; they also don’t influence each other instantly. Time must pass for each of the three factors to exert influence and to receive influence in return. The three factors influence each other bidirectionally, so people are both producers and products of their own environment.
Social cognitive theory represents a break from the behaviorist approach, which posits that environment causes behavior. Behaviorists ignore human functioning ...
