Theory Database - Theory 63: Social Cognitive Theory

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 63: Social Cognitive Theory

Number of Constructs: 10
Number of Triples: 18

Theory triples

Self-efficacy positively influences Behaviour
Environment influences Behaviour
Personal and cognitive factors influences Behaviour
Behaviour influences Environment
Behaviour influences Personal and cognitive factors
Self-efficacy part of Self-reflective capability
Self-reflective capability type of Personal and cognitive factors
Self-regulatory capability type of Personal and cognitive factors
Vicarious learning capability type of Personal and cognitive factors
Vicarious learning capability positively influences Self-regulatory capability
Forethought capability type of Personal and cognitive factors
Symbolising capability type of Personal and cognitive factors
Symbolising capability positively influences Forethought capability
Outcome expectations part of Forethought capability
Outcome expectations positively influences Self-regulatory capability
Personal and cognitive factors influences Environment
Environment influences Personal and cognitive factors
Self-regulatory capability positively influences Self-efficacy

Theory constructs and annotations

Self-efficacy Perceived judgements of one's ability to cope effectively in different circumstances [ BCIO:006044 (Situational self-efficacy belief for a behaviour) 63 29 ]
Behaviour Anything one does in response to internal/external events [ BCIO:036000 (Individual human behaviour) 63 70 8 5 14 62 64 78 81 65 77 13 55 74 79 24 18 53 54 57 69 71 ]
Environment The external agents or conditions (physical, biological, social and cultural) that influence the functions of an organism [ ENVO:01000254 (Environmental system) 63 2 56 47 76 49 72 60 58 67 46 4 17 5 66 9 3 10 14 ]
Personal and cognitive factors Factors relating to the individual and to forms of knowing and awareness [ BCIO:050215 (Behavioural capability) 63 66 40 23 65 72 8 41 ]
Self-reflective capability The ability to analyse one's own experiences, thoughts and knowledge [ BCIO:050752 (Reflective capability) 63 ]
Self-regulatory capability The ability to motivate or regulate one's own behaviour on the basis of personal standards and evaluations of the behaviour [ BCIO:006005 (Self-regulation capability) 63 19 10 34 60 ]
Vicarious learning capability The ability to learn through observation [ BCIO:050795 (Vicarious learning capability) 63 ]
Forethought capability The ability to regulate behaviour on the basis of the future [ BCIO:006005 (Self-regulation capability) 63 19 10 34 60 ]
Symbolising capability The capacity to use symbols [ BCIO:050788 (Symbol processing skill) 63 ]
Outcome expectations

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. New Jersey, US: Prentice-Hall.

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