SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY The social cognitive theory (SCT) is a learning theory that describes how behaviors are learned. Specifically, SCT emphasizes reciprocal determinism, or the interactive and dynamic process by which behaviors, personal, and environmental factors affect each other and are affected by each other (Figure 1). These personal and environmental factors form the constructs of SCT and include psychological determinants of behavior, environmental determinants of behavior, observational learning, and self-regulation. These are defined as follows: Psychological determinants are cognitive factors which influence behaviors. They include outcome expectations, or the perceived value associated with the consequences of a behavior, and self-efficacy, or the perceived belief about one’s ability to perform a health promoting behavior. Observational learning is the ability to learn a new behavior by exposure to interpersonal or media displays of it, especially through peer modeling. Environmental determinants are external and physical factors which influence behavior, such as incentive motivation and facilitation. Incentive motivation is the use of rewards or punishment to modify behavior, and facilitation is the process by which tools, resources, and environmental changes are introduced to make new behaviors easier to perform. Self-Regulation is one’s personal ability to control oneself through selfmonitoring, goal-setting, feedback, self-reward, self-instruction, and enlistment of social support. Figure 1. A diagrammatic interpretation of the Social Cognitive Theory illustrating how personal and environmental factors affect behavior. These factors, in turn, BEHAVIOR also are affected by behavior and are affected by each other. (McAlister, Perry, & Parcel, 2008) PERSONAL FACTOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR