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Theory and Application in Personality Science: The Case of Social-cognitive Theory

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  • Daniel Cervone

Abstract

This article reviews the development of theoretical concepts and applications of basic findings in personality psychology. It does so primarily by focusing on social-cognitive theories of personality structure and functioning. These include the foundational theories of Bandura and Mischel and the subsequent KAPA model of Cervone. Three central themes in social-cognitive conceptions are identified: (a) a focus on individuals rather than on summaries of individual differences in the population, (b) attention to causal mechanisms underlying action and experience and (c) the study of persons in context, including attention to psychological processes through which people assign meaning to diverse settings and life challenges. These emphases facilitate applications, as is illustrated by a review of applied efforts in developing societies that capitalise on principles of social-cognitive theory, including assessments guided by the KAPA model.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Cervone, 2023. "Theory and Application in Personality Science: The Case of Social-cognitive Theory," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 35(2), pages 220-250, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:psydev:v:35:y:2023:i:2:p:220-250
    DOI: 10.1177/09713336231178366
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Victor Orozco-Olvera & Fuyuan Shen & Lucie Cluver, 2019. "The effectiveness of using entertainment education narratives to promote safer sexual behaviors of youth: A meta-analysis, 1985-2017," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Li Yuan & Robert Chia & Jonathan Gosling, 2023. "Confucian Virtue Ethics and Ethical Leadership in Modern China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 119-133, January.
    3. Paul E. Smaldino & Aaron Lukaszewski & Christopher Rueden & Michael Gurven, 2019. "Niche diversity can explain cross-cultural differences in personality structure," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1276-1283, December.
    4. Cervone, Daniel & Lott, Dylan T., 2007. "Language and the Languages of Personality," European Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(4), pages 419-437, October.
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