Introduction
Many theorists have come up with different ideologies regarding human behavior in social interaction.
But the main four well-known theorists who have proposed different ways in which people behave in social interactions are:
- George Kelly
- Julian Rotter
- Albert Bandura
- Carl Rogers
George Kelly’s Behavioral Concepts
George Kelly’s four concepts on how people behave in social interactions are:
- Individualism
- Naturalism
- Universalism
- Relativism
Julian Rotter’s Behavioral Concepts
Julian Rotter’s social learning theory suggests that people have a sense of control over their environment and the situations they find themselves in, which is referred to as locus of control.
Julian Rotter’s work on locus of control has helped to shed light on why some people are more likely to take risks while others tend to play it safe.
Two factors trigger the element of taking a risk:
- External locus of control
- Internal locus of control
Albert Bandura’s Behavioral Concepts
Albert Bandura holds that people behave in social interactions based on the expectations that they have of themselves and of others.
Bandura elaborates on this fact by basing on the following four concepts:
- Self-efficacy
- Observation
- Imitation
- Modelling
According to Bandura, people are likely to observe and imitate behaviors with reward due to two main reasons:
- People want to associate themselves with behaviors with positive outcomes
- People are seeking approval
People are not likely to imitate punishing behaviors due to the pain associated with them.
Behaviors with no consequences are rarely imitated because people prefer emulating behavior that adds value to their lives.
Carl Rogers Behavioral Concepts
Carl Rogers states that people behave differently in social interactions based on their self-concept.
A person’s self-concept consists of their:
- Self-image
- Self-esteem
- Ideal self
- Self-actualization
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several concepts explaining peoples’ behaviors in social interactions.
Some of these concepts are:
- Self-concepts
- Self-efficacy,
- Personal construction theory
- Control locus
- Observation, imitation, and modelling
References
Kovach, M. (2018). A review of classical motivation theories: A study understanding the value of locus of control in higher education. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 7(1), 34-53.
Mruk, C. J., & Skelly, T. (2017). Is self-esteem absolute, relative, or functional? Implications for cross- cultural and humanistic psychology. The Humanistic Psychologist, 45(4), 300- 324.
Pröbstl, G., & Schmidt-Hönig, K. (2019). Self-efficacy in social science. Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education, 10(2), 49-59.
Stepp, Z. A., & Brown, J. C. (2021). The (lack of) relationship between secondary science teachers’ self-efficacy for culturally responsive instruction and their observed practices. International Journal of Science Education, 43(9), 1504-1523.
Tus, J. (2020). Self–concept, self–esteem, self–efficacy and academic performance of the senior high school students. International Journal of Research Culture Society, 4(10), 45-59.