Motivation and social cognitive theory

By D. Schunk, Maria K. DiBenedetto. 2020

1,560 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract This article discusses motivation from the perspective of Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Motivation refers to processes that instigate and sustain goal-directed activities. Motivational processes are personal/internal influences that lead to outcomes such as choice, effort, persistence, achievement, and environmental regulation. Motivation has been a prominent feature of social cognitive theory from the early modeling research to the current conception involving agency. The conceptual framework of reciprocal interactions is discussed, after which research is summarized on behavioral, environmental, and personal influences on motivation. Key internal motivational processes are goals and self-evaluations of progress, self-efficacy, social comparisons, values, outcome expectations, attributions, and self-regulation. Critical issues confronting the theory include diversity and culture, methodology, and long-term effects of interventions. The article concludes with additional recommendations for future research on contexts, conceptual clarity, and technology.

Subfields: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2c9dd3a713121573070ac99191c8b0aa708034d5

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

1. E. Usher
2. Jason A. Chen
3. David B. Morris
4. Frank Pajares
5. Huy P Phan
6. D. Schunk
7. Maria K. DiBenedetto

In Social Psychology

1. E. Usher
2. Jason A. Chen
3. Frank Pajares
4. Huy P Phan
5. David B. Morris
6. D. Schunk

Citations in the corpus

• Acknowledging the Whiteness of Motivation Research: Seeking Cultural Relevance (2018, background): “Dale Schunk (2017) acknowledged that a social cognitive theoretical perspective described general principles but its application in educational settings depends on numerous sociocultural factors, such as ethnic/racial identity and immigration status.”