Social Cognitive Theory of Moral Thought & Action

The field of psychology is known for its focus on human behavior. The social cognitive theory of moral thought and action views the individual as an agent of change within his environment. This approach differs from behavioral theories, where the focus is on how a person reacts to his environment. Instead, behavior is viewed as self-motivated rather than reactive.

Identification

• Social cognitive theory is a branch of psychology developed by Albert Bandura in 1977. It grew out of the principles put forth in social learning theory as developed by N. E. Miller and J. Dollard in 1941. Social cognitive theory focuses on the part that the individual plays in shaping the environment he lives in. Through self reflection, individuals are thought to assign meaning and intention to their environments and their behaviors. Moral thought becomes a core motivation behind how a person views the world around him, and the actions, or behaviors he carries out within the world.

Function

• The emphasis placed on individual thought processes, beliefs and actions makes social cognitive theory a good predictor of individual and group behavior. It's also useful in identifying ways that behavior can be modified or changed. It's initial focus is on how people acquire certain behaviors and why they engage in particular behavior patterns. A person's actions are motivated by her thoughts regarding what is right and what is wrong. The combined influence of environment, people and behavior forms a self-regulatory system within the individual that determines how she acts in certain situations.

People Influences

• A concept known as modeling deals with how people observe certain behaviors in others and the positive reinforcements received as a result of these behaviors. A person's morals are said to be influenced by the behaviors he observes in others, and by the feedback received when certain behaviors or actions are carried out. Close associates like family members, friends and authority figures wield the most influence in terms of feedback. According to social cognitive theory, childhood is where the process of self-regulation begins.

Behavior Influences

• Based on the observations made, individuals develop a set of internal standards that dictate how they should behave within different situations. These standards are based on moral beliefs acquired from observing how others behave and the consequences that followed their actions. Social cognitive theory views internal standards as a source of self-reflection when a person is trying to decide right from wrong. As a result, these standards become the gauge by which a person monitors his own self worth.

Environmental Influences

• Social cognitive theory views the interplay between people, behavior and environment as a continuous process. Even after self-regulatory controls are in place, individuals still respond to environmental influences. Feedback from others is still of value, especially when unexpected consequences result from a person's actions. The effects a person's behaviors have on her environment is another type of feedback that influences self-regulatory controls and morals. However, the interplay between people, behavior and environment does not guarantee that a person's moral conduct will match her moral standards.