Deconstructing Bandura Slides Graduate Psychology Seminar
Deconstructing Bandura
Reciprocal Determinism & the Agentic Perspective
The Behavioral Shift
01 // CONTEXT
Skinnerian Orthodoxy
Behavior as a function of environmental contingencies. The "black box" remains closed. Learning is direct and reinforced.
The Social Turn (1977)
Introduction of cognitive mediation. Behavior can be acquired through observation without immediate reinforcement.
Seminar Question
"How does the concept of 'vicarious reinforcement' fundamentally break the stimulus-response chain?"
Reciprocal Determinism
02 // MECHANISMS
Personal Cognition, Affect, Biology
Behavioral Actions, Skills, Habits
Environmental Social, Physical, Digital
Interlocking determinants: The individual is both a producer and a product of their environment.
The Agentic Perspective
03 // AGENCY
Intentionality
Acts performed with planning and foresight.
Forethought
Setting goals and anticipating outcomes.
Self-Reactiveness
Self-monitoring and corrective action.
Self-Reflectiveness
Metacognitive evaluation of one's efficacy.
Discussion Prompt
Contrast the agentic person with the "reactive organism" of early behaviorism. What does this shift imply for clinical interventions or educational design?
Deconstructing Bandura Slides Graduate Psychology Seminar
Deconstructing Bandura
Reciprocal Determinism & the Agentic Perspective
The Behavioral Shift
01 // CONTEXT
Skinnerian Orthodoxy
Behavior as a function of environmental contingencies. The "black box" remains closed. Learning is direct and reinforced.
The Social Turn (1977)
Introduction of cognitive mediation. Behavior can be acquired through observation without immediate reinforcement.
Seminar Question
"How does the concept of 'vicarious reinforcement' fundamentally break the stimulus-response chain?"
Reciprocal Determinism
02 // THE TRIAD
Personal Cognition, Affect, Biology
Behavioral Actions, Skills, Habits
Environmental Social, Physical, Digital
"Triadic Reciprocal Causation" — Bandura (1986)
The Agentic Perspective
03 // AGENCY
Intentionality
The active decision to perform certain behaviors with a specific outcome in mind.
Forethought
The temporal extension of agency; setting goals and anticipating consequences.
Self-Reactiveness
The process of self-regulation and standard-setting during behavior execution.
Self-Reflectiveness
The metacognitive ability to evaluate one's functioning and efficacy.
Seminar Prompt
If agency is emergent from triadic interactions, is "free will" a relevant psychological construct, or merely a byproduct of complex reciprocity?
Primary Text Reading Guide Seminar Reading Guide
SCT-501: Advanced Analysis of Social Cognition
NAME: ____________________________
Primary Texts for Analysis
Bandura, A. (1989). Human Agency in Social Cognitive Theory. American Psychologist, 44 (9).
Bandura, A. (1978). The Self System in Reciprocal Determinism. American Psychologist, 33 (4).
I. Critical Deconstruction
1. Bandura argues that "human agency is exercised in a multi-causal structure." How does his definition of agency differ from the philosophical notion of "absolute free will"? Provide specific evidence from the text regarding the constraints of the triadic system.
2. Locate the section on "Forethought." Explain how Bandura elevates the human organism from a reactive state to a proactive state through the temporal extension of agency.
II. Comparative Analysis: Bandura vs. Skinner
In the seminar, we will debate the shift from "Behaviorism" to "Social Cognition." Use the space below to map out the fundamental disagreements regarding the role of the Internal Mediaton .
Skinner's Radical Behaviorism
Bandura's Social Cognition
III. The Synthesis Problem
3. One common critique of SCT is that it lacks a single, unifying principle that is as elegant as operant conditioning. Based on your reading, does "Reciprocal Determinism" offer a stronger or weaker explanatory framework for novel behaviors? Justify your stance.
Seminar Discussion Points
"Is the environment just as 'agentic' as the person in Bandura's model?"
"Can we truly measure 'internal symbolic representation' or is it a conceptual ghost?"
Cognitive Mechanics Slides Lesson 02: Cognitive Mechanics
The Black Box Opened
Neurobiological Correlates of Observational Learning
Cognitive Mediation
01 // THE PROCESS
Attention
Selecting relevant information from the model. Influenced by salience, value, and model prestige.
Retention
Symbolic coding and cognitive rehearsal. Converting observations into mental representations.
Production
Translating symbolic concepts into motor actions. Requires feedback and practice.
Motivation
The incentive to perform. Driven by direct, vicarious, or self-reinforcement.
The Neural Bridge
02 // NEUROSCIENCE
Mirror Neurons: Firing during action and observation.
Discovered in the F5 area of the macaque premotor cortex, these neurons suggest a biological mechanism for understanding intentions and internalizing external actions.
Crucial Distinction
Bandura's "symbolic coding" vs. Rizzolatti's "direct mapping." Are they the same thing?
Measuring Rehearsal
03 // fMRI EVIDENCE
Cognitive Lab: Neurobiological Activity
Contemporary studies show that imagined rehearsal (retention) activates the same neural pathways as physical production, but with inhibitory signals preventing motor output.
Attention
Prefrontal cortex & Parietal lobe activation.
Retention
Hippocampal engagement in symbolic encoding.
Production
Premotor cortex & SMA priming.
"The brain does not distinguish between doing and seeing at the level of basic motor imagery."
Next: Lab Review
Neuro Analysis Lab Sheet Neuro-Analysis Lab Sheet
Cognitive Neuroscience of Modeling
NAME: ____________________________
fMRI Analysis Observational Learning Graduate Seminar
Lab Context
In this lab, you will analyze summary data from a hypothetical fMRI study comparing Action Observation versus Action Execution . You must evaluate the degree of neural overlap and determine if the findings support Bandura's symbolic coding hypothesis or a direct mirror neuron mapping model.
Condition A: Observation
Subject watches a video of a hand grasping a complex geometric object.
Premotor
85%
Parietal
70%
Prefrontal
40%
Condition B: Execution
Subject physically grasps the same object without visual feedback.
Premotor
95%
Parietal
90%
Prefrontal
15%
1. Contrast the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) activation between conditions.
Why might the PFC be significantly more active during observation than during execution ? Relate your answer to the sub-process of Attention or Symbolic Rehearsal .
2. The "Mirror System" Overlap.
Based on the Premotor and Parietal data, what percentage of neural resources appears "shared" between seeing and doing? Does this data suggest that observational learning is an automatic biological process or a cognitively mediated one?
3. Theoretical Challenge: "The Symbolic Gap"
Critics of Mirror Neuron Theory argue that neurons can't "represent" abstract concepts. How would Bandura defend his Retention process (which involves coding) given the neurobiological data showing direct motor priming?
Lab Series: The Black Box Experimental Psych // 502
Digital Vicariousness Slides Lesson 03: Digital Dynamics
Digital Vicariousness
Algorithms, Influence, and Outcome Expectancies
The Algorithmic Loop
01 // REINFORCEMENT
Attentional Capture
Engagement algorithms prioritize high-arousal modeling content, artificially inflating the "attentional" stage of SCT.
Vicarious Outcomes
Metrics (likes, views, comments) serve as public indicators of reinforcement, signaling the "outcome expectancy" to millions of observers simultaneously.
Theoretical Analysis
"In the digital age, reinforcement is no longer just observed; it is quantified and broadcasted, creating an unprecedented scale of vicarious influence."
Parasocial Modeling
02 // MODEL CHARACTERISTICS
Similarity
The perceived "relatability" of influencers increases observer self-efficacy ("If they can do it, I can too").
Status/Prestige
Blue-check verification and follower counts act as proxies for model status, increasing attentional focus.
Identification
Parasocial relationships bridge the gap between "observed stranger" and "trusted peer," deepening retention.
Expectancy vs. Reality
03 // VIRAL MECHANICS
VS
Direct Consequence
The high physical or social risk of a viral "challenge" behavior.
Vicarious Expectancy
The perceived social rewards (likes, clout) observed in successful models.
Seminar Focus: "The Cognitive Bypass"
How do digital environments suppress forethought regarding negative outcomes while amplifying vicarious reinforcement for dangerous behaviors?
Viral Mechanics Worksheet Digital Viral Case Study
Applied Social Cognitive Theory
NAME: ____________________________
Objective: Select a specific viral behavior (e.g., a "challenge," an influencer lifestyle trend, or a social media "prank") and deconstruct its spread using Bandura's cognitive sub-processes.
1. The Phenomenon
Identify the behavior and the primary platform(s) of transmission.
2. Cognitive Deconstruction
1
Attentional Processes
What specific model characteristics (status, similarity) or platform features (thumbnails, music) captured the observer's focus?
2
Retentional Processes
How was the behavior symbolically coded? (e.g., a specific hashtag, a repetitive sound, or a "recipe" for action).
3
Production Processes
What physical or cognitive resources did the observer need to replicate the behavior? Was there a "barrier to entry"?
4
Motivational Processes
Identify the Vicarious Reinforcement . What public rewards did the model receive that the observer anticipated for themselves?
3. The Expectancy Gap
Analyze the discrepancy between the Observed Outcome (the model's success) and the Actual Outcome for many replicators (the risk/failure). How does the digital environment mask the negative direct consequences of the behavior?
Theoretical Synthesis
Does this viral trend represent Agentic Behavior or Environmental Determinism ? Justify your choice based on the Reciprocal Determinism model.
Modeling Intervention Workshop Slides Lesson 04: Applied Workshop
Mastery Modeling
Designing Interventions for Self-Efficacy
The Design Goal
01 // OBJECTIVE
"The most effective way of developing a strong sense of efficacy is through mastery experiences."
Your task today is to move from observation to enactive mastery . You are designing an intervention that uses modeling not just to teach a skill, but to transform the participant's belief in their own capability.
Modeling Phases
02 // THE SEQUENCE
Phase 1: Instructional
Cognitive modeling of the rules and strategies. Use a model that explains why they are taking specific actions.
Phase 2: Guided Mastery
Observer performs the behavior with immediate feedback and physical/verbal "scaffolding" from the model.
Phase 3: Transfer
Self-directed mastery in increasingly difficult, naturalistic environments to solidify self-efficacy.
Critical Design Factors
03 // IMPLEMENTATION
A
Cognitive Rehearsal
How will you prompt participants to visualize the action before performing it?
B
Incentive Structure
What direct or vicarious rewards will sustain motivation during the "awkward" learning phase?
C
Model Selection
Will you use a 'coping model' (who struggles and overcomes) or a 'mastery model' (who is flawless)?
Workshop Challenge
Select a target behavior (e.g., public speaking, surgical skill, clinical empathy) and outline a 3-step modeling intervention on your worksheet.
Intervention Blueprint Worksheet Intervention Blueprint
Applied Mastery Modeling
NAME: ____________________________
Target Behavior & Population
Identify the specific skill to be learned and the demographic (e.g., medical students learning empathy, phobia patients, corporate leadership trainees).
Baseline Efficacy Gap
Why is this behavior difficult? Identify the specific self-doubts or environmental barriers that currently prevent mastery.
Intervention Sequence
1
Instructional Modeling
Model Selection
Who is the model? Justify based on status or similarity.
Cognitive Script
How will the model verbalize their internal strategies?
2
Guided Mastery
Describe the scaffolding process. How will the participant perform the behavior? What immediate feedback loop is in place?
3
Transfer & Consolidation
How will you ensure self-efficacy generalizes to high-pressure or naturalistic settings? Define the final "graduation" task.
Efficacy Measurement
How will you measure the change in self-efficacy (not just the change in behavior)? Define one qualitative and one quantitative metric for your intervention.
Quantitative Metric
Qualitative Metric Research Symposium Slides Culminating Symposium
Synthesizing Social Cognition
Research Proposal Defense & Theoretical Expansion
Defense Structure
01 // THE FORMAT
01
The Gap (3 min)
Identify a limitation in existing SCT literature or a novel environmental variable (e.g., AI modeling).
02
The Hypothesis (2 min)
Explicitly link your study to one of the four sub-processes or self-efficacy theory.
03
The Design (5 min)
Explain your methodology for isolating triadic determinants.
Evaluation Criteria
Theoretical Alignment with Bandura’s primary texts.
Methodological Rigor in isolating cognitive variables.
Novelty of application to modern social contexts.
Critical Feedback
02 // PEER REVIEW
The Theoretical 'Why'
Does the proposed study actually test a cognitive process, or is it defaulting to simple behaviorism?
Determinant Isolation
How does the design distinguish between personal cognition and environmental influence?
Ecological Validity
Would the modeling effect observed in the lab persist in the complexity of the digital age?
Reflective Closing
"Theory is only as strong as its ability to predict the next shift in human agency."
As you present, consider: How does your proposal move Social Cognitive Theory from a 20th-century framework to a 21st-century tool for behavioral change?
Peer Review Feedback Form Peer Review Feedback Form
Symposium Defense Series
REVIEWER: ____________________________
Instructions
Provide high-level academic critique for your peer's research proposal. Focus on the integration of Social Cognitive Theory mechanisms and the methodological feasibility of their design.
1. Theoretical Alignment
How accurately does the proposal utilize Bandura's constructs (e.g., reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy, specific sub-processes)? Is there any conceptual drift toward behaviorism or purely cognitive models?
2. Methodological Rigor
Does the design effectively isolate the independent variables? Are the proposed metrics (qualitative/quantitative) appropriate for measuring internal cognitive change?
3. Innovation & Novelty
Does the proposal address a genuine 'gap' in contemporary literature? Does it apply SCT in a way that feels relevant to modern social or digital contexts?
The "Defense" Question
Write one critical, probing question for the presenter to answer during the Q&A session. Focus on a potential weakness or a theoretical tension in their proposal.
Psychology Research Defense SCT-CULM // Graduate Seminar
