Social Cognitive Theory

Social Cognitive Theory

1. Social cognitive theory presents a freedom-of-action view of human behavior, in that people can learn to set goals and self-regulate their cognitions, emotions, behaviors, and environments in ways that make it easier for them to achieve those goals.

2. Albert Bandura

   • Social learning theory proposes that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context and occurs primarily through reinforcement, observation, or direct instruction, even in the absence of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement.

3. Social cognitive theory and nutrition

   • Nutrition counseling is a supportive process for setting priorities and goals and creating individualized action plans that recognize and encourage responsibility for self-care.
   • People can be taught a variety of strategies to promote behavior change, including self-monitoring, problem solving, goal setting, contingency management, cognitive reconstruction, social support, self-control stimulation, stress management and relapse prevention.

4. Outcome expetations

   • Physical outcomes
     • Perceived risk of disease and perceived benefits
       • Example: Talk about new food labeling
   • Social outcomes
     • Behaviors that fulfill social norms
       • Example: Talk about breastfeeding, especially in public.
   • Self-evaluate outcomes
     • Self-satisfaction and self-worth
       • Talks about self love and acceptance

5. Self-regulation

   • Ability to direct and regulate behavior trough skills of self-influence
     • Goal-settings
       • Observe the behavior we seek to change
       • Set specific behavioral change or action
       • Monitor our own progress

6. Self - efficacy

   • Methods
     • Social persuasion
       • Phenomenon by which, through a message transmitted by the sender, a change in attitudes, beliefs or behaviors is sought in the receiver (or receivers) of said information.
     • Social modeling
       • Is a form of social learning that occurs when we observe the behavior of others
     • Personal mastery experiences
       • Setting and achieving increasingly challenging action goals
     • Modification of emotional or physical responses
       • Assisting individuals in modifying their emotional or physical responses to behavior