scholarly journals Investigating the neural substrates of Antagonistic Externalizing and social-cognitive Theory of Mind: an fMRI examination of functional activity and synchrony

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Weiss ◽  
Andrew Jahn ◽  
Courtland S. Hyatt ◽  
Max M. Owens ◽  
Nathan T. Carter ◽  
...  

Abstract Recently developed quantitative models of psychopathology (i.e., Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology) identify an Antagonistic Externalizing spectrum that captures the psychological disposition toward criminal and antisocial behavior. The purpose of the present study was to examine relations between Antagonistic psychopathology (and associated Five-Factor model Antagonism/Agreeableness) and neural functioning related to social-cognitive Theory of Mind using a large sample (N = 973) collected as part of the Human Connectome Project (Van Essen et al., 2013a). No meaningful relations between Antagonism/Antagonistic Externalizing and Theory of Mind-related neural activity or synchrony were observed (p < .005). We conclude by outlining methodological considerations (e.g., validity of social cognition task and low test–retest reliability of functional biomarkers) that may account for these null results, and present recommendations for future research.

Author(s):  
Dale H. Schunk ◽  
Ellen L. Usher

Social cognitive theory is a theory of human behavior that emphasizes learning from the social environment. This chapter focuses on Bandura’s social cognitive theory, which postulates reciprocal interactions among personal, behavioral, and social/environmental factors. Persons use various vicarious, symbolic, and self-regulatory processes as they strive to develop a sense of agency in their lives. Key motivational processes are goals and self-evaluations of progress, outcome expectations, values, social comparisons, and self-efficacy. People set goals and evaluate their goal progress. The perception of progress sustains self-efficacy and motivation. Individuals act in accordance with their values and strive for outcomes they desire. Social comparisons with others provide further information on their learning and goal attainment. Self-efficacy is a critical influence on motivation and affects task choices, effort, persistence, and achievement. Recommendations are made for future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-77
Author(s):  
Erin Hurley ◽  
Timo Dietrich ◽  
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele

Co-design empowers people, giving them a voice in social marketing program design; however, approaches have mostly excluded expert knowledge. An abductive approach to co-design allows for inclusion of expert knowledge, providing theoretical guidance while simultaneously investigating user views and ideas extending understanding beyond known effective approaches. We use the seven-step co-design framework and outline how an abductive inference can be applied to co-design. Social cognitive theory constructs were integrated into the seven-step co-design process. The abductive approach to co-design was tested in two co-design sessions involving 40 participants. Findings demonstrate that theory can be successfully integrated into the seven-step co-design process through utilization of theory-mapped activity cards. This article provides guidance on how theory can be incorporated into ideation and insight generation. Limitations and future research recommendations are provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtland S. Hyatt ◽  
Emily S. Hallowell ◽  
Max M. Owens ◽  
Brandon M. Weiss ◽  
Lawrence H. Sweet ◽  
...  

Abstract Quantitative models of psychopathology (i.e., HiTOP) propose that personality and psychopathology are intertwined, such that the various processes that characterize personality traits may be useful in describing and predicting manifestations of psychopathology. In the current study, we used data from the Human Connectome Project (N = 1050) to investigate neural activation following receipt of a reward during an fMRI task as one shared mechanism that may be related to the personality trait Extraversion (specifically its sub-component Agentic Extraversion) and internalizing psychopathology. We also conducted exploratory analyses on the links between neural activation following reward receipt and the other Five-Factor Model personality traits, as well as separate analyses by gender. No significant relations (p < .005) were observed between any personality trait or index of psychopathology and neural activation following reward receipt, and most effect sizes were null to very small in nature (i.e., r < |.05|). We conclude by discussing the appropriate interpretation of these null findings, and provide suggestions for future research that spans psychological and neurobiological levels of analysis.


Author(s):  
Dale H. Schunk ◽  
Ellen L. Usher

Social cognitive theory is a theory of psychological functioning that emphasizes learning from the social environment. This chapter focuses on Bandura's social cognitive theory, which postulates reciprocal interactions among personal, behavioral, and social/environmental factors. Persons use various vicarious, symbolic, and self-regulatory processes as they strive to develop a sense of agency in their lives. Key motivational processes are goals and self-evaluations of progress, outcome expectations, values, social comparisons, and self-efficacy. People set goals and evaluate their goal progress. The perception of progress sustains self-efficacy and motivation. Individuals act in accordance with their values and strive for outcomes they desire. Social comparisons with others provide further information on their learning and goal attainment. Self-efficacy is an especially critical influence on motivation and affects task choices, effort, persistence, and achievement. Suggestions are given for future research directions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Norol Hamiza Zamzuri ◽  
Erne Suzila Kassim ◽  
Melissa Shahrom ◽  
Norshima Humaidi

The Internet technology and pervasive computing has provided consumers with privileges to shop online. In addition, the Industry 4.0 agenda has placed the business web and the social web as the ecosystem domains, which explains why online shopping is a norm today. While many studies have been conducted to investigate the determinants of consumers’ intention to use online shopping, mixed results are always found, especially when the business take unique approaches for their digital presence. Besides, even though self-efficacy has been studied extensively in information system research, technological complexity has always given a challenge to consumers’ computing ability. Building on the Use and Gratification Theory (GTA) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study aims to examine the relationships between entertainment gratification, informative gratification, web irritation and self-efficacy towards individual’s intention to use online shopping. Using the quantitative survey approach, data was collected from 217 young executives who are frequent online shoppers. The results of the structural equation modeling suggest entertainment gratification, informative gratification and self-efficacy are the factors that derive consumers’ intention to shop online. On the other hand, web irritation has no significant relationship with online shopping intention. The findings do not only capture the importance for web retailers to provide adequate buying-selling information and to provide the element of fun to the shopping portals, but it also suggests for the web retailers to provide less complicated online shopping features since consumers’ ability to use the technology determines purchase behavior. The findings serve as future research agenda. Keywords: online business, Use and Gratification Theory (GTA), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), entertainment gratification, informative gratification, web irritation, self-efficacy


Partner Abuse ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-454
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Steinmetz ◽  
Matt J. Gray

This article argues for the increased use of tenets of social cognitive theory (SCT) when studying stay–leave decision-making processes for victims of partner abuse. SCT is widely utilized to explain and predict human behavior in a variety of contexts including political reform and social activism against oppressive governments. Further, different conceptualizations of control (e.g., empowerment) are being widely used in partner abuse research. However, self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancies are rarely utilized to predict how people will try to exercise control over themselves and their surrounding environments within intimate relationships characterized by oppression. The absence of SCT within partner abuse literature is paradoxical given that multilevel systematic oppression of groups of people (e.g., women, racial minorities) contributes to the high prevalence of partner violence. The article reviews the literature on stay–leave decisions to argue that variations in combined self-efficacy and outcome expectancy beliefs may explain variance in victims’ responses to partner abuse. The status of research is critiqued, a future research agenda is presented, and clinical recommendations are suggested to aid the advancement of SCT applications in the context of abusive relationships.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ach Maulidi

Purpose The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the use of disposition variables as determinants of fraudulent behaviours. It is hoped, it stimulates our critical understanding of psychological aetiology on individual’s intention to perpetrate partial fraud or to co-offend. Design/methodology/approach This study was developed as a reflection of empirical work conducted in Indonesia public sectors. Findings By suggesting the important process of individual’s cognitive reasoning, this study identifies that there is an overlooked process made by prior studies in terms of personality traits as a strong predictive power for individual’s intention to commit fraudulent behaviours or white-collar crimes. This study argues that they should not be independently predictive of fraud behaviours. This study acknowledges that in the prediction of social behaviours, whether fraudulent behaviours or not, there are no absolute answers to or analyses of it. However, it is instructive to consider social cognitive theory in elucidating the psychological pathways associated with fraudulent behaviours. This is because it can bridge an appropriate lens in positioning personalised behaviours as a predictor of perpetrating fraudulent behaviours. Then, this study does not have any serious concerns about how many antecedents influence behaviours of intention to perform wrongdoings. However, the functioning of individual cognitive reasoning should not be ignored. Both theoretical and managerial implications from this study are discussed to suggest alternative theories on causes of fraudulent behaviours. Practical implications This study uses social cognitive theory as a basis of analysis. Through a simple analysis, a different perspective of treating the antecedents of fraud has been proposed, so that it can be used to develop more effective intervention that can deter fraudulent behaviours within an organisation. Originality/value This study theoretically explores psychological mechanisms or pathways related to the functioning of individual’s reasoning. Then, this study proposes the critiques, in which it is intended to stimulate another research on deepening and broadening a theory of fraud. In short, this study importantly also offers recommendations and opportunities for future research and organisations to develop effective prevention that can deter fraudulent behaviours.


Author(s):  
Najib A. Mozahem

Abstract An agent-based model is proposed and tested. This model aims to simulate agency as conceptualized in Bandura's (Am Psychol 37:122–147, 1982; Organ Behav Hum Decis Process 50:248–287; Annu Rev Psychol 52: 1–26) Social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory has been used to explain the continued underrepresentation of females in certain fields, most notably fields that are associated with engineering and technology. The theory proposes that agents acquire information from four different sources, and then, through a process of reciprocal interaction, these agents develop their perception of self-efficacy. In this study, an agent-based model is used to model this interaction. The output from the simulation supports the validity of the model used and illustrates how agency "emerges" from the triadic interaction. The model successfully simulates several of the theorized aspects of social cognitive theory. The simulation results reveal that even small gendered differences can lead to female misrepresentation in certain fields. The model also shows that female discouragement plays a larger role than male encouragement in female underrepresentation. The implications of these results are discussed. Finally, the limitations of the model are discussed, along with directions for future research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-112
Author(s):  
David McIlroy ◽  
Sue Palmer-Conn ◽  
Bridget Lawler ◽  
Karen Poole ◽  
Ömer Faruk Ursavas

Abstract. The study was developed in the context of Personality and Social Cognitive Theory with constructs that encapsulate non-intellective processes of academic achievement. The goal was to explore the role of the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality in academic performance and to use this model as a reference point to test the incremental validity of two measures of Self-efficacy (Academic and Emotional) and an indicator of Absenteeism. Participants (N = 120) were comprised of 17-year-old male (n = 47) and female (n = 73) opportunistically sampled secondary level college students. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationship between the independent variables (FFM, Academic Self-efficacy, Emotional Self-efficacy, and Absenteeism) and the outcome variable, Grade Points Average (GPA). Correlation analysis found that four FFM factors and the two Self-efficacy measures were associated with GPA. In a hierarchical regression analysis, the FFM explained 22% variance on performance and the two Self-efficacy measures added 9% incremental variance followed by 3% for Absenteeism. Overall, the non-intellective constructs explain a substantial 34% variance on achievement and provide focal points for theoretical, empirical, and pedagogical evaluation. Moreover, they are suggestive of the pathways and processes that support learning, augment ability, and enhance achievement.


Author(s):  
Alireza Azimpour ◽  
Navid Karimian ◽  
Nourollah Mohamadi ◽  
Maryam Azarnioushan ◽  
Fatemeh Rahmani

Background: Moral disengagement is a variable in the social cognitive theory of morality and includes eight cognitive, psychosocial mechanisms by which moral self-sanctions are selectively disengaged from inhumane conduct. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to validate a university student replica of the moral disengagement scale among some Iranian university students. Methods: This validation study was based on the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) method. The statistical population consisted of 346 undergraduate students at the Salman Farsi University of Kazerun. Also, 44 other undergraduate students were participated to examine the test-retest reliability of the scale. Both samples were selected by convenient sampling. The main sample completed the 32-item Moral Disengagement scale and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. CFA (by AMOS 24), stability coefficients, Cronbach's alpha, and multiple analysis of variance (ANOVA) (all by SPSS 16) were used to study gender differences. Results: The indices of CFA for the 32-item scale were not satisfactory, then an item in all subscales with the lesser beta was dropped, and the scale included only 24-items. The indices of CFA of the 24-item scale were satisfactory. The internal consistency for the whole scale was desirable (α: .817) and for the subscales were adequate. Test-retest correlations were not desirable for the whole scale (r: .693) and for the subscales. The total score and the scores of some subscales were negatively correlated with social desirability. The total score and the scores of some subscales also were greater in males. Conclusions: The satisfactory indices of CFA and also the higher scores of males in the 24-item scale confirmed its construct validity. However, correlations between the scale and social desirability did not confirm the ideal divergent validity. Thus, assessing the social desirability of the scale can clarify interpreting the scores. The obtained test-retest reliability suggests that this scale cannot assess a stable variable, and according to the social cognitive theory, it is better to consider moral disengagement as a changeable and inconstant variable.


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