Understanding Reciprocal Determinism
I understand it means "individual's behavior influences and is influenced by both the social world and personal characteristics."
but that's really all i understand, how would you explain this theory
How can this be useful to teacher?? and how can they use in the classrooms
could it be that it helps teachers be careful on what they show the children, and useful because teachers get to understand how what they affect children
http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/f/reciprocal-determinism.htm
Reciprocal determinism is a theory developed by psychologist Albert Bandura, which asserts that an individual's behavior is shaped by their environment, personal characteristics, and the interaction between the two. To fully understand this theory, let's break it down into its three key components: behavior, environment, and personal characteristics.
1. Behavior: This refers to the actions, choices, and reactions of an individual. It can encompass both overt behaviors, like speaking or moving, as well as covert behaviors, such as thoughts and emotions.
2. Environment: The environment consists of external factors that surround an individual, including physical, social, cultural, and situational elements. It can include things like family, friends, school, society, and the physical settings in which a person interacts.
3. Personal Characteristics: These are the qualities, traits, beliefs, values, and cognitive processes that are unique to an individual. They can include personality traits, intelligence, self-efficacy beliefs, motivations, and learned behaviors.
Reciprocal determinism emphasizes that behavior is not just influenced by the environment or personal characteristics alone, but rather by the dynamic interaction between the two. In other words, people are not merely products of their environments, nor are they solely determined by their personal characteristics. Instead, individuals actively engage with their environment and shape it through their behavior, while also being affected by the environment they inhabit.
For example, imagine a person who is naturally outgoing (a personal characteristic). They are more likely to seek out social interactions and participate in group activities (behavior). These social interactions, in turn, may reinforce and enhance their outgoing nature (environment). The individual's behavior and personal characteristics continually interact, influencing and shaping each other.
Similarly, reciprocal determinism also acknowledges that the environment can influence personal characteristics. For instance, a child growing up in a nurturing and supportive family (environment) is more likely to develop a positive self-concept and high self-esteem (personal characteristic).
In summary, reciprocal determinism theorizes that behavior is not solely determined by either personal characteristics or the environment, but rather by the ongoing reciprocal interaction between the two. Understanding this theory allows us to appreciate the complex interplay between individuals and their surroundings, helping to explain why people behave the way they do.