PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY

Personality Psychology

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to discuss one theory of persoanlity. For this purose I selected social learning theory, which states that individual's learning is influenced by how the learner understands the learning event, including the reasons underlying what he or she is doing and why he or she is doing it. In brief social learning theory suggests that through observation of others- especially those we hold in esteem, people can learn at a cognitive level how to imitate the observed behaviour.

Personality Psychology

Introduction

Cognitive theories of personality focus on the processes of information encoding and retrieval, and the role of expectations, motives, goals, and beliefs in the development of stable personality characteristics. This approach differs from personality theories that emphasize either the conditions within which personality develops (e.g., behavioral theories) or the trait structures that are revealed in those various conditions (e.g., evolutionary and trait theories). As such, cognitive theories of personality are particularly relevant for counseling psychology because of their core assumption that lasting personality change can occur as a result of rational analysis and insight (Akers, 2000).

Social Learning Theory of Bandura

Social learning theory and social cognitive theory were developed by Albert Bandura in an effort to explain how individuals learn from the environment. Both theories provide a useful framework for understanding how the media influence behavior. This entry describes the main elements in social learning theory and social cognitive theory and their direct application to understanding the influence of the media on development (Bandura, 1989).

Traditional learning theories suggest that people learn about societal expectations by performing behaviors and receiving direct positive or negative feedback from the environment. For example, learning theories suggest that girls and boys learn to play with different types of toys because they receive different feedback from parents, peers, and teachers when they play with the “right” toys (e.g., boys with trucks and girls with dolls) than when they play with the “wrong” toys (e.g., boys with dolls and girls with trucks.) From these sorts of experiences, individuals learn which behaviors work and which behaviors don't work in their environment (Bandura, 2001).

The development of social learning theory marked a theoretical advance by suggesting that humans need not experience every cause and effect in order to learn; rather, they can learn by observing others. For example, children do not have to directly experience different feedback to learn about gender expectations; they can learn by observing the actions of others and the consequences they receive. Bandura termed this process observational learning (Akers, 2000).

The social learning theory in relation to offending behaviour suggests that observational learning takes place primarily in three contexts; the familiar influences, prevalent subculture influences and through symbolic modelling as part of the social environment. This essay will examine how these modelling practices have impacted upon a specific case study.

Social learning theory can be separated into 3 principles. Acquisition, Instigation and regulation of the learned behaviour. Bandura suggests that people are not born criminals any more than they are ...