PSYC FPX 3540 assessment 1 Theories Application Exercise

Capella University

PSYC FPX 3540 Culture, Ethnicity, and Diversity

Prof. Name

December, 2024

Social Cognitive Theory Summarize the concept/theory. 

SCT is a psychological model created by Albert Bandura. This theory explains how personal, environmental, and behavioral factors combine to influence learning and behavior (Devi et al., 2022). One important concept in this theory is observational learning, or learning by observation, where one learns by watching others, and self-efficacy belief, or belief in one’s ability to attain a goal, as the primary motivator for action. The theory presumes that the behavior is controlled not only by external rewards or punishments but also by internal processes such as cognitive evaluations and expectations. SCT also emphasizes the reciprocal determinism principle, which refers to the fact that personal factors, behaviors, and the environment are constantly interacting and influencing one another. The theory has widely been applied in education, health promotion, and behavior change interventions.

Real World Example 

A real-life application of Social Cognitive Theory is workplace mentorship where employees learn by observing their more experienced colleagues and practicing or engaging with them (Hamman & McGhie, 2023). New joiners or inexperienced workers are attached to a seasoned mentor who practices effective work habits, problem-solving, and proper professional behavior at work. By observing these habits by the mentor, mentees get an idea of handling complex tasks at work or in the office and achieve career aspirations. For example, a junior salesperson may learn from their mentor how to engage clients, handle objections, and close deals. Observational learning not only develops technical skills but also self-efficacy because the mentees feel confident about their ability to replicate these behaviors successfully. This theory of reciprocal determinism is also apparent in the sense that the developing skills of the mentee will affect the environment, for example, contributing to a team culture, and the supportive environment reinforces their growth. Furthermore, constructive feedback is often provided by mentors, which acts as both an environmental factor and a behavioral motivator to improve the approaches of the mentees. This dynamic is in line with the emphasis of Social Cognitive Theory on the interaction of elements at the personal, environmental, and behavioral levels about how learning through observation and interaction can lead to better individual and organizational outcomes.

Name of video

White Like Me Provide a summary of the video. 

The story of author and activist Tim Wis is a powerful, highly acclaimed documentary film showing viewers through systemic racism and privilege and ways in which U.S. historical and contemporary systems of power advance White people while leaving disadvantage upon people of color (Smolyannikova, 2020). Through personal anecdotes, historical analysis, and interviews, Wise highlights how racial inequality is maintained through social, political, and economic structures, which are unnoticed by those benefiting from them. The film compels the viewer to understand what privilege looks like, work to break down biases and act to promote racial equity. It emphasizes the necessity of being aware of how whiteness has been normalized and the implications this has on society.

Apply the Concept/Theory 

The Social Cognitive Theory can be applied to the themes of White Like Me by explaining how behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes about race are learned and perpetuated through observation and interaction in social environments  (Hughes et al., 2023). In the documentary, Tim Wise explains how racial privilege and systemic inequality are maintained not through overt actions but through implicit behaviors and societal norms that individuals learn from family, peers, media, and institutions. For instance, white people may learn to internalize privilege by observing how members of their racial group are treated more favorably in housing, education, and employment. This observational learning reinforces unconscious biases and attitudes that sustain systemic inequities. This way, the self-efficacy concept may also be regarded in dealing with racism. The white allies fighting against systemic racism do that only after creating the impression that their actions can work and, thus, alter something, which is made possible by watching others achieve their objectives and effectively plead for racial justice. It is reciprocal determinism also because individual actions like confronting prejudices can alter societal norms to promote others to practice anti-racism. From the Social Cognitive Theory, they are provided with this potential to think about their role when it comes to observing, replicating, or challenging behaviors that give support to systemic racism.

PSYC FPX 3540 assessment 1 Conclusion

In short, Social Cognitive Theory is very important for the perspective that it provides regarding how individuals learn behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes through observation, interaction with the environment, and reciprocal influence on personal, environmental, and behavioral factors (Manjarres et al., 2020). White Like Me is a fantastic example of how learned social norms and unchallenged biases are what sustain systemic racism and white privilege and, thus, point out how awareness and active intervention must be key in understanding such systems. People, through acknowledgment of the power of observational learning and self-efficacy, can break beyond deep-seated behavior patterns to create positive changes in society. Social Cognitive Theory finds meaning in the real-world problems with racial inequality. It encourages reflection accountability and fair treatment of people in their daily lives.

PSYC FPX 3540 assessment 1 References 

Devi, B., Pradhan, S., Giri, D., & Baxodirovna, N. L. (2022). Concept of Social cognitive theory and its application in the field of Medical and Nursing education: a framework to guide Research. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 5161–5168. https://mail.journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/4243

Hamman, D., & McGhie, V. (2023). Towards decoloniality of the education training and development third-year curriculum: Employing situated learning characteristics to facilitate authentic learning. Cogent Education, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186x.2023.2237301