Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering their strengths, weaknesses, and personal goals.

For example, consider a student aiming to improve in math. The student believes that effort leads to success, recognizes their strengths and weaknesses, and develops a study plan based on past performance. This illustrates the role of cognitive processes, such as self-reflection and goal-setting, in shaping behavior. Social cognitive psychologists argue that individuals are not passive recipients of environmental stimuli; rather, they actively interpret situations and adjust their behavior accordingly. This ability to reflect on and influence one's environment highlights the dynamic nature of personality development.

Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory further supports this view, proposing that both learned behaviors and cognitive processes shape personality. Bandura introduced the concept of reciprocal determinism, in which behavior, personal factors (such as beliefs), and environmental influences continuously interact. For instance, if an individual perceives others as threatening, they may respond with hostility, reinforcing a cycle of negative social interactions. This example illustrates how cognitive factors shape reactions to environmental stimuli.

Social learning theorists argue that learned behaviors are not solely the result of conditioning but are also shaped by cognitive expectations. For example, individuals may mentally anticipate the outcomes of certain behaviors based on past experiences, which in turn influences their actions. This interplay between cognitive processes and learned behavior highlights the complexity of personality development from a social cognitive perspective.