fei75766_ch17_534-568.indd 564  02/24/20 10:49 AM
Part VI    Learning-Cognitive Theories564
knowledge. Inaddition, itmust serve asapractical guide toaction andbeinternally 
consistent andparsimonious. How doesBandura’s theory rateonthese sixcriteria?
Bandura’s theory hasgenerated several thousand research studies andthus
receives averyhighrating onitscapacity togenerate research. Bandura andhisstu-
dentcolleagues haveconducted much ofthework, butother researchers, too,have
been attracted tothetheory. Bandura maybethemost meticulous writer ofallper-
sonality theorists. Hiscarefully constructed formulations lendthemselves tothefor-
mation ofnumerous testable hypotheses. 
Onthestandard offalsifiability, werateBandura’s theory high. Self-efficacy theory 
suggests that“people’s beliefs intheirpersonal efficacy influence whatcourses ofaction 
theychoose topursue, howmuch effort theywillinvest inactivities, howlongtheywill
persevere inthefaceofobstacles andfailure experiences, andtheirresiliency follow -
ingsetbacks” (Bandura, 1994, p.65).Thisstatement suggests several areas ofpossible 
research thatcould leadtofalsification ofself-efficacy theory. 
Onitsability toorganize knowledge, Bandura’s theory receives ahighrating. 
Many findings from psychology research canbeorganized bysocial cognitive the-
ory.Thetriadic reciprocal causation model isacomprehensive concept thatoffers 
aviable explanation fortheacquisition ofmost observable behaviors. Theinclusion 
ofthree variables inthisparadigm gives Bandura’s theory more flexibility toorganize 
andexplain behavior thandoesSkinner’s radical behaviorism, which relies heavily on
environmental variables.
How practical isBandura’s social cognitive theory? Tothetherapist, teacher, 
parent, oranyone interested intheacquisition andmaintenance ofnewbehaviors, 
self-efficacy theory provides useful andspecific guidelines. Inaddition topresent -
ingtechniques forenhancing personal andcollective efficacy andforefficient useof
proxies, Bandura’s theory suggests ways inwhich observational learning andmodel -
ingcanbeusedtoacquire behaviors.
Isthetheory internally consistent? Because Bandura’s social cognitive theory is
nothighly speculative, ithasoutstanding internal consistency. Bandura isnotafraid 
tospeculate, buthenever ventures farbeyond theempirical dataavailable tohim.The
result isacarefully couched, rigorously written, andinternally consistent theory.
Thefinalcriterion ofauseful theory isparsimony .Again, Bandura’s theory 
meets highstandards. Thetheory issimple, straightforward, andunencumbered by
hypothetical orfanciful explanations.
 Concept of Humanity
Bandura sees humans as having the capacity to become many things, and 
most of these things are learned through modeling. If human learning were 
dependent on direct experience of trial and error, it would be exceedingly 
slow, tedious, and dangerous. Fortunately, “humans have evolved an advanced 
cognitive capacity for observational learning that enables them to shape and 
structure their lives through the power of modeling” (Bandura, 2002a, p. 167). Final PDF to printer