Paula is amazed when she looks at the behaviors and personalities of her two children. Her 11-year-old daughter is assertive, likes to be the center of attention, is almost hypercompetitive, and always willing to take risks. Paula's daughter will argue a point when she thinks she is right and can even be stubborn at times. She seems much older than her eleven years of age and always ends up in

Question

the captain or leadership role. In contrast, Paula's 9-year-old son is very passive, avoids having his picture taken, hates to be the center of attention, seems to like reflection over action, will not take risks and typically avoids opportunities for adventure. Paula finds it hard to believe her two children are biologically related. She is convinced she raised them in the same type of environment and utilized the same principles of reinforcement and punishment. How might you use social cognitive theory to explain some of the differences in behavior and personality of Paula's children?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Based on Bandura's theories (Social Learning Theory and Social Cognitive Theory), incentives affect performance. Paula's children may have different incentives for exhibiting certain behaviors. The son may have learned assertive behaviors but lack motivation to display those behaviors. According to Bandura, cognitive factors are essential to learning, both vicarious learning and enactive learning. Paula's son may have tried the behaviors his sister exhibits and experienced negative consequences for his behavior (either natural consequences or consequences imposed by someone else). Also consider that his self-efficacy may not match that of his sister. His sister is older and exhibits abilities he has not achieved. He may feel incapable.