Behavioral and Social Cognitive Approaches

760 Words4 Pages
Behavioral and Social/Cognitive Approaches to Forming Habits Clara Flores July 24, 2012 PSY/250 Dr. Adrian Woods Behavioral and Social/Cognitive Approaches to Forming Habits Many psychological theories developed by scientists have been based on behavioral and cognitive approaches. The psychological theory claiming that an individual’s behavior has to do with the environment the individual is in is the behavioral approach. On the other hand, scientists believe the cognitive approach’s core factor is the way an individual thinks is what controls their behavior. Habit is an act of behavior that usually happens automatically. Individuals form habits every day that involves one’s behavior and is also in association with the environment they live in. Behavioral approach states that individuals, including their problems and actions can be comprehended while observing one’s behavior. Theorists who specialize in behavior believe after birth all individuals are similar and personality development is formed through learning experience during the first few years of life (developmental years), which has a large influential factor on the personality. For this reason, personality formation has to do greatly with the surrounding environment, in which to form that individual. Positive and negative award reinforces the influence. When an individual obtains positive reinforcement through behavior, they use this behavior as part of themselves. A person will continue to behave in the same manor to keep receiving that positive reinforcement. Cognitive approach views the thinking process and cognition as a cause of an individual’s behavior. The act or process of knowing, referring to the mental development of a person including their perception, attention, reasoning, judgment, memory, speech, thinking, and imaging. This

More about Behavioral and Social Cognitive Approaches

Open Document