Behavioral and Social Cognitive theory

Abstract

Behavioral and social cognitive theories are two important theories of psychology. Behavioral theory deals with learning based on different changes in behavior. Pavlov and B.F. Skinner laid the foundation of behavioral theory. Pavlov worked for classical conditioning where as Skinner focused on operant conditioning. Social cognitive theory believes as environment and cognition as a main source for ones development. Both of the theories deal with the aspects of different behaviors on one's life. This paper will lie down the basis of both theories and will also focus on the research of different psychologists.

Behavioral and Social Cognitive theory

Introduction

A theory is a set of concepts, definitions and different procedures that combine together to explain any situation by the relation between different variables. There are different theories that deal with the field of psychology. The two influential theories are of behavioral and social cognitive theory. The behavioral theory focuses on that learning is due different changes in behavior. The behaviors are learned through different processes. In this theory, the learners analyzed the information in different manners and then receive the strengthening through praise. Behaviorism deals more with behavior than dealing with thinking, feeling and knowing. This mainly focuses over the different components of behavior which may be objective components or observable components. Behaviorists believe that scientifically we can only study those things that can be measured and observed. When Freud was studying the patients unconscious mind than at the same time Ivan Pavlov and other scientists were researching over different aspects of behavior in Laboratory settings. After a lot of research, it was concluded that the development is observable behavior, and this is a part of science. This can be learned through different experiences with the environment (Sheetrock, 2003).

Social cognitive theory deals with the psychological mode of behavior that emerged with the work of Albert Bandura (1977-1986). Initially this theory deals with the emotional aspects other aspects to observe and understand the behavior changes. Secondly the concept of social cognitive theory deals with the opportunity to provide the new behavioral research for the improvement of health education. The social cognitive theory focuses in how people adopt different behavioral patterns and how they maintain them in their lives. This theory also provides different intervention strategies. The behavioral change depends upon several factors which include environment, people and behavior. Social cognitive theory provides an outline for designing and evaluating different programs (Willis, 2013).

Behavioral Theory

There are two famous behavioral theories which include Pavlov and B.F. Skinner theory. Behaviorism originated with the work of John B. Watson who was an American psychologist. Watson view was that psychology only deals with the behavior, and it have to do nothing with the human mind and consciousness. According to Watson man can be studied objectively, like apes and rats. Watson's work was based on experiments conducted by Ivan Pavlov. Nowadays behaviorism is mainly associated with the Skinner. Skinner made different experiments that were conducted by Watson, and he rejected most of Watson's emphasis on reflexes ...