Health Sciences 4202A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Social Cognitive Theory, Social Learning Theory, Procedural Knowledge

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 4202A/B
• Professor: Tamara Thompson

Document Summary

Chapter 7 social cognitive theory applied to health behavior. Five key constructs of social cognitive theory: sct has its origins in social learning theory (a theory used in education and psychology), but the two theories are not the same. Bandura also distinguishes different types of knowledge. In the context of health promotion, content knowledge involves understanding the advantages and drawbacks of a given health behavior, though this represents a minimal awareness only. The more advanced type of knowledge, procedural knowledge, involves understanding how to engage in a given health behavior. It is vital to understand that self-efficacy is task-specific. It is also worth noting that self-efficacy is indeed a perception. Perceptions that people hold may or may not mirror reality. In essence, strong self-efficacy is a belief that an individual can perform a health-protective behavior even under adverse circumstances. According to sct, people can and do increase their perceptions of self-efficacy based on four methods of learning.