Social Learning Theory & Focused Action

Dr. Julian Rotter's Social Learning Theory (SLT) was the first Cognitive-Behavioral-Psychological-Theory and the stimulus for an abundance of respected scientific research.

For his pioneering work, Dr. Rotter was ranked by his peers as one of the most eminent Psychologists of the 21st Century, defining our rational and problem solving capabilities within his expectancy based model for behavioral change.

SLT is also widely recognized for its unique emphasis on the role of the Psychological Situation in the prediction of goal-directed behaviors. Consider the following:

You anticipate success in a tennis game, but not in bowling, because you are skilled at tennis but not so good at bowling. Simply put, your behavior is the direct result of your expectancies your tennis play will be rewarded, but not so in bowling.

Personal change is most probable when you anticipate your new behaviors will actually lead to achievement of your short and long term goals. This is where the Personal Change Indicator (PCI) enters the scene. The PCI replaces vagueness with clarity as you quickly learn to focus your energy on achievement of highly valued goals. In short, you will do the most important things first. This is referred to as Focused Action.

Focused Action is based on your anticipation your new behaviors will actually lead to valued outcomes. This is where self-care education becomes all important. The following example may help:

You rate back pain as your number one personal concern and want to learn how to prevent the pain in the future. Through self-care education, you acquire new and useful self-care behaviors expected to produce reductions in future back pain, better golf, a happier, more satisfying life, and the list goes on. Your life improves as the direct and predictable result of Focused Action.

This is basically how Social Learning Theory works and how it will accelerate effective problem solving behaviors and valued changes in your life.

Dr. Ray

Together, making winning moments your way of life.