Behavioral Approach to PersonalityBehavioral Approach to Personality

Social Cognitive TheorySocial Cognitive Theory

• Says personality is shaped by 3 forces: environmental conditions, cognitive-personal factors, and behavior, which all interact to influence how we evaluate, interpret, organize, and apply information

• Says personality is shaped by 3 forces: environmental conditions, cognitive-personal factors, and behavior, which all interact to influence how we evaluate, interpret, organize, and apply information

Albert Bandura

Julian Rotter

Walter Mischel

Cognitive - Personal FactorsCognitive - Personal Factors

• Our beliefs, expectations, values, intentions, and social roles

• Our emotional makeup and our biological and genetic factors

• Our beliefs, expectations, values, intentions, and social roles

• Our emotional makeup and our biological and genetic factors

Behaviors & Environmental FactorsBehaviors & Environmental Factors• Personal actions (everything we do and

say)

• Our social, political, and cultural influences, as well as our particular learning experiences

• Personal actions (everything we do and say)

• Our social, political, and cultural influences, as well as our particular learning experiences

Important Cognitive ProcessesImportant Cognitive Processes

• Language ability – powerful tool for processing and understanding information that influences personality

• Observational learning – watching, imitating, and modeling

• Purposeful behavior – setting goals• Self-analysis – monitor our own

thoughts and actions

• Language ability – powerful tool for processing and understanding information that influences personality

• Observational learning – watching, imitating, and modeling

• Purposeful behavior – setting goals• Self-analysis – monitor our own

thoughts and actions

For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your beliefs.beliefs.

1. A. Making a lot of money is largely a matter of getting the right breaks.B. Promotions are earned through hard work and persistence.

2. A. Many times the reactions of teachers seem haphazard (unpredictable) to me.B. In my experience I have noticed that there is usually a direct connection between how hard I study and the grades I get.

3. A. The number of divorces indicates that more and more people are not trying to make their marriages work.B. Marriage is largely a gamble.

4. A. It is silly to think that one can really change another person’s basic attitudes.B. When I am right I can convince others.

For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your beliefs.beliefs.

5. A. In our society a person’s future earning power is dependent upon his or her ability.B. Getting promoted is really a matter of being a little luckier than the other person.

6. A. If one knows how to deal with people, they are really quite easily led.B. I have little influence over the way other people behave.

7. A. Sometimes I feel that I have little to do with the grades I get.B. In my case the grades I make are the results of my own efforts; luck has little or nothing to do with it.

8. A. People like me can change the course of world affairs if we make ourselves heard.B. It is only wishful thinking to believe that one can really influence what happens in society at large.

For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your For each question, choose the answer that best applies to your beliefs.beliefs.

9. A. I am the master of my fate.B. A great deal that happens to me is probably a matter of chance.

10. A. It is almost impossible to figure out how to please some people.B. Getting along with people is a skill that must be practiced.

Scoring your Locus of ControlScoring your Locus of Control• Give one point for

each answer that matches the key

1. A

2. A

3. B

4. A

5. B

6. B

7. B

8. B

9. B

10. A

• The closer you score to 10, the higher your external locus of control.

• The closer you score toward 0, the higher your internal locus of control.

Locus of ControlLocus of Control• Our beliefs about how

much control we have over situations or rewards

• Internal – we are in charge• External – fate and other

people have control• Internal locus is correlated

with higher achievement, greater physical and mental health

• Our beliefs about how much control we have over situations or rewards

• Internal – we are in charge• External – fate and other

people have control• Internal locus is correlated

with higher achievement, greater physical and mental health

Mischel’s Marshmallow Test: A Study of Impulse Control (Delay of Mischel’s Marshmallow Test: A Study of Impulse Control (Delay of Gratification)Gratification)

To four-year-olds: “If you wait until I return, you can have two To four-year-olds: “If you wait until I return, you can have two marshmallows for a treat. If you can’t wait until then you can have only onemarshmallows for a treat. If you can’t wait until then you can have only one

—but you can have it right now.”—but you can have it right now.”Twelve to fourteen years later…Twelve to fourteen years later…

• Those who waited for the two marshmallows (65%) were

       More socially competent       More self-assertive       Better able to cope with life’s

frustrations       More self-reliant and

confident       More trustworthy and

dependable       Earned 210 points higher

scores on SATs

• Those who waited for the two marshmallows (65%) were

       More socially competent       More self-assertive       Better able to cope with life’s

frustrations       More self-reliant and

confident       More trustworthy and

dependable       Earned 210 points higher

scores on SATs

• Those who grabbed and ate the one marshmallow (35%) were

       Socially introverted       More stubborn and

indecisive       More easily upset by

frustrations       More likely to think of

themselves as “bad” or unworthy

       More likely to overreact to irritations with a sharp temper, so provoking fights and arguments

• Those who grabbed and ate the one marshmallow (35%) were

       Socially introverted       More stubborn and

indecisive       More easily upset by

frustrations       More likely to think of

themselves as “bad” or unworthy

       More likely to overreact to irritations with a sharp temper, so provoking fights and arguments

Delay of GratificationDelay of Gratification• Voluntarily postponing an

immediate reward and continuing to complete some task with the promise of a future reward

• Being able to delay gratification is correlated with higher intelligence, achievement, and social responsibility

• Voluntarily postponing an immediate reward and continuing to complete some task with the promise of a future reward

• Being able to delay gratification is correlated with higher intelligence, achievement, and social responsibility

Social Cognitive TheorySocial Cognitive Theory

Self-Efficacy in ActionSelf-Efficacy in Action

Self-EfficacySelf-Efficacy• Our personal beliefs regarding how

capable we are in controlling events and situations in our lives, such as performing or completing specific tasks and behaviors

• Our personal beliefs regarding how capable we are in controlling events and situations in our lives, such as performing or completing specific tasks and behaviors

Self-Efficacy cont.Self-Efficacy cont.• Effects on Personality:• Research shows that the higher one’s

perceived self-efficacy, the greater his or her success

• Effects on Personality:• Research shows that the higher one’s

perceived self-efficacy, the greater his or her success

Rate yourself using each item below and the following scale:Rate yourself using each item below and the following scale:1 = never; 2 = seldom; 3 = sometimes; 4 = frequently; 5 = always1 = never; 2 = seldom; 3 = sometimes; 4 = frequently; 5 = always

1. I enjoy watching and participating in competitive sports.2. My good reputation is very valuable to me.3. I tend to behave in a rather violent fashion when I get frustrated.4. I believe that it’s a good idea to just play hookey every now and

again.5. I usually read the sports page of the newspaper.6. I drink more alcohol than most of my friends.7. I will stand up and fight for a good idea.8. I don’t press my views on others unless I think they will be

receptive.9. I do not have a hard time saying no to people.10. I like to be the leader.11. I dress in a stylish manner.12. I would like to have a sports car.13. I spend more than average on entertainment.14. If I’m angry at someone I am likely to yell at them.15. I spend a good deal of time tending to my physical appearance.

1. I enjoy watching and participating in competitive sports.2. My good reputation is very valuable to me.3. I tend to behave in a rather violent fashion when I get frustrated.4. I believe that it’s a good idea to just play hookey every now and

again.5. I usually read the sports page of the newspaper.6. I drink more alcohol than most of my friends.7. I will stand up and fight for a good idea.8. I don’t press my views on others unless I think they will be

receptive.9. I do not have a hard time saying no to people.10. I like to be the leader.11. I dress in a stylish manner.12. I would like to have a sports car.13. I spend more than average on entertainment.14. If I’m angry at someone I am likely to yell at them.15. I spend a good deal of time tending to my physical appearance.

Scoring your Need for PowerScoring your Need for Power

• Just add up the values of the 15 items• 16-43 = low power need• 44-70 = moderate need level• 71-80 = very strong need

• Just add up the values of the 15 items• 16-43 = low power need• 44-70 = moderate need level• 71-80 = very strong need

Rate yourself using each item below and the following scale:Rate yourself using each item below and the following scale:1 = disagree completely; 2 = disagree somewhat; 3 = unsure/neutral; 1 = disagree completely; 2 = disagree somewhat; 3 = unsure/neutral;

4 = agree somewhat; 5 = agree completely4 = agree somewhat; 5 = agree completely

1. It is more important to be popular than successful.

2. Going to a party or social gathering is my idea of a good time.

3. I enjoy being around other people.

4. I find that talking to other people helps me work through my problems.

5. I am a friendly, people-oriented person.

6. Other people come to me for help in solving their problems.

7. It is important to me that people approve of me and like me.

8. Friends are one of the most important things in my life.

9. I do not like to get into arguments, disagreements, or conflicts with other people.

10. You can usually find me with other people.

1. It is more important to be popular than successful.

2. Going to a party or social gathering is my idea of a good time.

3. I enjoy being around other people.

4. I find that talking to other people helps me work through my problems.

5. I am a friendly, people-oriented person.

6. Other people come to me for help in solving their problems.

7. It is important to me that people approve of me and like me.

8. Friends are one of the most important things in my life.

9. I do not like to get into arguments, disagreements, or conflicts with other people.

10. You can usually find me with other people.

Scoring your Need for AffiliationScoring your Need for Affiliation

• Just add up the values of the 10 items• Average for Men = 35-37• Average for Women = 36-38

• Just add up the values of the 10 items• Average for Men = 35-37• Average for Women = 36-38

Analysis of Social Cognitive TheoryAnalysis of Social Cognitive Theory• Pros:• Comprehensive –

includes more influential factors than other theories

• Experimentally based – testable concepts, less biased

• Programs for change – therapies based on these theories

• Pros:• Comprehensive –

includes more influential factors than other theories

• Experimentally based – testable concepts, less biased

• Programs for change – therapies based on these theories

• Criticisms:• Narrowly defined

behaviors (locus of control, etc.) offer only piecemeal explanation of personality

• Not enough emphasis on genetic factors

• Criticisms:• Narrowly defined

behaviors (locus of control, etc.) offer only piecemeal explanation of personality

• Not enough emphasis on genetic factors