Social Cognitive Theory in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

This essay explores the Social Cognitive Theory as a framework for health promotion and disease prevention. It defines the theory, highlighting key components such as behavioral capability, expectations, self-control, observational learning, self-efficacy, and reinforcement. The essay traces t...Read More

Running head: social cognitive theory in health promotion 1
Social Cognitive Theory in Health Promotion
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Social cognitive theory in health promotion 2
There are several theories that have been advanced to support health promotion and
prevention of disease. The theories are helpful in leadership, formulation of policies and
legislation of health care since they help to explain, predict and interpret trends in the health
practice. These theories include; social cognitive theory, health belief theory, relapse prevention
among others. This paper focuses on social cognitive theory as a model of health promotion and
disease prevention.
Definition
The social cognitive theory is centered of the grounds that individual learn from
experiences, those of others and their continued interaction with their environment (Linke,
Robinson & Pekmezi, 2014). The social cognitive theory can be used to motivate, modify or
predict behavior. The main aspect of social cognitive theory however is that, behavior is largely
dependent on observation from social interactions. The theory bases its argument on how people
emulate certain models in a society. The theory suggests that people do not invent new behaviors
but inherit behavior of others depending on how well a behavior is motivated or reinforced.
Schwarzer, R. (Ed.). (2014) explains that the key components of the theory in institution
of individual behavioral modification include; behavioral capability. This aids a person to
recognize and being able to replicate a behavior. Expectations and expectances where the former
evaluates the end result of behavior change while the latter examines the value resulting from the
behavior change.
Self-control refers to the aspect where the individual has the capability of controlling and
regulating their own behavior. Observational learning which is based on an individual’s ability to
learn through observing the actions of others to achieve the required behavior modification. Self-

Social cognitive theory in health promotion 3
efficacy is another aspect that an individual has control of their behaviors and they can execute
or modify behavior at will. Finally, social cognitive theory has the aspect of reinforcement.
Reinforcement is a recognized aspect of many behavioral theories and is based on the fact that a
behavior can be learned or unlearned through repeated or unrepeated performance.
Reinforcement aspect of social cognitive theories also borrow heavily from the idea that
behavior can be changed and reinforced through rewards, motivation and incentives.
History and origin
Glanz, (2015) explains that the earliest contribution to the social cognitive theory can be
credited to Edwin Holt and Harold Chapman who proposed that all human and animal behaviors
arise from the psychological basis of desire and emotional feelings. John Dollard and Neal Miller
advanced the perspectives of Holt and Harold by suggesting that social motivation, rewarding
certain actions and various responses could change and modify behavior as well. The two also
proposed that rewarding a behavior made the behavior to be reinforced and therefore refereed to
rewarding behavior as positive reinforcement.
Zhang, et al (2016) holds that the most significant contributions into social cognitive
theory however borrows heavily from the work of a Canadian psychologist, Albert Bandura.
Bandura advanced the idea that social cognitive theory can be used in learning through several
studies and experiments. One the most famous experiments include the famous Bobo doll
experiment. The experiment involved little children who were presented with a movie of a model
who was presented to be quite aggressive to a bobo doll. The experiment was able to shape the
children’s behavior depending on whether the model was either punished or rewarded from the
aggressive behavior.

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According to Kelder, et al (2015) the experiment advanced several propositions to the
social cognitive theory. Among these propositions include the idea that behavior is acquired
through observation, imitation and modelling. This was to sum up with the work of previous
theorists who had proposed a rather behavioral approach suggesting that behavior can only be
learned or modified through rewards and punishments. In later studies and writings, Bandura
added that human behaviors are also influenced by environment and human patterns of
communication. Bandura has since then continued to advance the theory to extend its application
into health promotion through a recent publication known as The Social and Policy Impact of
Social Cognitive Theory.
Social cognitive theory in health promotion and disease prevention
The social cognitive theory has become recognized in the realm of health promotion and
disease prevention in the sense that learning is considered as deriving lessons from interactions
and experiences and continued application of such lessons. The theory also emphasizes learning
as through interaction with the environment. The theory has been successful in addressing and
explaining several health concerns such as drug addiction, dietary habits, lifestyle, psychological
issues and cultural related health issues argues (Hayden, 2017).
Heydari, Dashtgard, & Moghadam, (2014) a research conducted in a hospital in Iran
regarding drug addiction and quitting such habits revealed that the theory is more efficient in
addressing the problem. When the theory was put in practice to help people quit drug addiction,
more people were found to quit than those who were not subjected to the theory. The theory is
therefore practical in addressing concerns such as high population growth and clinically
prescribed healthy behaviors such as good lifestyle, drug abuse, and dieting.

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Why I chose the theory
The main reason for choosing this theory to address health promotion and disease
prevention is due to the fact that the theory provides mechanisms of reducing risks of disease
infection and not curing infections. The theory emphasizes more on the need for prevention to
prevent incurring the cost of curing. This helps to change the work of health workers from curing
infections to promoting good health through behavior modification, self-efficacy and self-control
in healthy living habits.
Another major reason as to why I chose the theory is due to the fact that many people
suffer from similar diseases and health challenges due to bad habits cultures, beliefs and norms.
It is however easier to get rid of these diseases through changing the behavior and beliefs of the
society by reinforcing healthy practices and behaviors while showing the consequences of bad
behavior to help people live longer and healthier lives.
Conclusion
Social cognitive theory is a model that bases its argument on the proposition that people
learn by observing and repeating the actions of others. The theory also supports the idea that the
environment one grows in also helps to shape their behavior. The theory may therefore help to
control health by focusing on the society as a whole to reduce incidences of disease infection
rather than treating individual patients explains Sallis, Owen, & Fisher (2015).

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REFERENCES
Glanz, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice. John Wiley & Sons.
Hayden, J. A. (2017). Introduction to health behavior theory. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Heydari, A., Dashtgard, A., & Moghadam, Z. E. (2014). The effect of Bandura's social cognitive
theory implementation on addiction quitting of clients referred to addiction quitting
clinics. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 19(1), 19.
Kelder, S. H., Hoelscher, D., & Perry, C. L. (2015). How individuals, environments, and health
behaviors interact. Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice, 159.
Linke, S. E., Robinson, C. J., & Pekmezi, D. (2014). Applying psychological theories to promote
healthy lifestyles. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(1), 4-14.
Sallis, J. F., Owen, N., & Fisher, E. (2015). Ecological models of health behavior. Health
behavior: Theory, research, and practice, 5, 43-64.
Schwarzer, R. (Ed.). (2014). Self-efficacy: Thought control of action. Taylor & Francis.
Zhang, J., Brackbill, D., Yang, S., Becker, J., Herbert, N., & Centola, D. (2016). Support or
competition? How online social networks increase physical activity: a randomized
controlled trial. Preventive medicine reports, 4, 453-458.