Impact of Cognitive Theory on Motivation

Behavioral, Social-Cognitive, and Humanistic Personality Theories

Matrix 

Personality Theories 

Criterion – How does each theory:  

Define personality and how personalities develop 

Explain intelligence and creativity 

Contribute to your personal and professional growth 

Define how your environment and past experiences play a part in your personality 

Identify with your basic human needs 

View behavior motivation of yourself and others 

Describe how your personality is affected by human observation  

Behavioral perspective 

Emphasizes the role of learning in shaping our personality. According to this perspective, our early experiences play a significant role in shaping our personality. In other words, behaviors are learned. Over time, these learned behaviors become part of our personality.

Intelligence and creativity are both products of learning. People can get smarter as they learn more and can become more creative as they gain new experiences. Intelligence and creativity represent the acquisition and use of knowledge and skills.

 It has helped me to better understand my own behavior and the behavior of others. I have been able to more effectively manage my own behavior and the behavior of those around me. Second, it has helped me to develop more effective intervention strategies

 The behavioral perspective is based on the idea that all behavior is learned and can be explained in terms of environmental factors. Thus, my environment has shaped my experiences, which in turn have shaped my personality; I am who I am because of all that.

My behavior is determined by basic needs, such as the need for food, water, and shelter. When these needs are not met, I engage in behaviors that will help me to survive. For example, if I am thirsty, I will seek out water; if I am hungry, I will look for food (p. 274)

 The behavioral perspective of motivation looks at the reinforcement and punishment of behaviors. From this perspective, we look at what behaviors are being reinforced or punished and how this affects the motivation of the individual to satisfy some basic biological or psychological needs (p. 274).

 Human observation can affect my personality by providing feedback that can reinforce or change my behavior, whether through negative or positive criticism for instance. Observations can also provide information that can help me understand my own behavior.

Social-cognitive perspective 

 Theoretical framework that emphasizes the role of cognitive factors in social behavior. The core idea of the social-cognitive perspective is that people are active learners who construct their own understanding of the world and themselves.

Intelligence is seen as the ability to learn from experience and to think abstractly, while creativity is seen as the ability to come up with new ideas or solutions, based on social interactions that the individual has with others (p.283)

 Explains how I can identify and change any negative self-beliefs that may be holding me back from reaching my full potential. It has helped me to better understand my own attitudes and beliefs, as well as how others see themselves in their own eyes.

I was someone who had been raised in a household where they were always told they were good at math, and so I was probably more likely to believe that I was good at math for that reason alone, and I thus tried harder in math class and performed better in math classes.

 The social-cognitive perspective identifies with my basic human needs by emphasizing the importance of social interaction and cognitive development in shaping human behavior. This perspective helps to explain how I interact with others and why I behave the way I do.

 Behavior motivation of myself and others can be explained in terms of the individual's thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about the situation and the desired outcome. I may engage in a particular behavior because I believe that it will lead to a desired outcome (e.g., getting a promotion at work), or another may behave in a certain way because he thinks that it is what is expected.

 We are motivated by the desire to achieve goals, avoid threats, and satisfy needs. This perspective also emphasizes the role of beliefs and expectations in motivating behavior. For example, if you believe that someone is trying to harm you, you will likely behave in a way that protects yourself from harm.

Humanistic perspective 

 Personality develops from the humanistic perspective as a result of the unique experiences that each person has. These experiences can include things like the relationships a person has, the events that occur in their life, and how they are raised. Each person's unique experiences help to shape their personality and determine how they behave and think (p. 311)

 From the humanistic perspective, intelligence and creativity are seen as important aspects of the human experience. Intelligence is seen as the ability to learn and understand, while creativity is seen as the ability to come up with new ideas. These abilities are seen as being essential to human growth and development

 The humanistic perspective can help me to grow in my personal life by promoting self-awareness and self-acceptance. It can also help me to grow professionally by teaching me to be more understanding and compassionate towards others by listening to their experiences and appreciating them for that.