Social-Cognitive Theory of Personality Assessment

Abstract

This articlepresents a social-cognitive theory ofpersonality assessment. We articulate the implications ofsocial-cognitive theories ofpersonalityfor the question ofwhat constitutes an assessment ofpersonality structure and behavioral dispositions. The theory consists of 5 social-cognitive principles of assessment. Personality assessments should (a) distinguish the task ofassessing internal personality structures and dynamicsfrom that ofassessing overt behavioral tendencies, (b) attend to personality systems thatfunction as personal determinants of action, (c) treat measures of separate psychological and physiological systems as conceptually distinct, (d) employ assessments that are sensitive to the unique qualities ofthe individual, and (e) assess persons in context. Theseprinciples are illustrated through a review ofrecent research. Social-cognitive theory is distinguished from an alternative theory ofpersonality structure and assessment, 5-factor theory, by articulating the strategies ofscientific explanation, conceptions ofpersonality structure and dispositions, and the assessment practices that differentiate the approaches.

From observations of individual behaviour to social representations of personality: Developmental pathways, attribution biases, and limitations of questionnaire methods

“…a). But these externalisations may not reflect psychological phenomena, their qualities, or their structures unequivocally or accurately (Cervone, Shadel, & Jencius, 2001;Lewin, 1935;Toomela, 2011). The complex interrelations between behavioural and psychological phenomena can be untangled only if these different kinds of phenomena are explored each in its own right and if a priori assumptions about specific interrelations are avoided.…”

Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses in Solving Work Problems: A Knowledge and Appraisal Personality Architecture (KAPA) Analysis of the Trait Conscientiousness and Self-Efficacy

“…Participants signed online for a two-part study and in exchange for their time they received two partial credits toward their course requirements. Previous research on KAPA (i.e., Cervone Shadel & Jencius, 2001) demonstrated that participants' demographic characteristics are unrelated to the variable of study here; thus, demographics were not collected from our sample. All participants declared to have at least six months of work experience.…”

Dysphoria and Self-Esteem Following an Achievement Event: Predictive Validity of Goal Orientation and Personality Style Theories of Vulnerability

“…Indeed, it is quite possible that there is meaningful variation even within domains (e.g., different goal orientations when interacting with John than with Jane). In terms of understanding depression vulnerability, a social cognitive personality assessment approach would argue for a more bottomup and person-in-context assessment strategy than the Goal Orientation Inventory currently permits (Cervone, Shadel, & Jencius, 2001). A more context-sensitive assessment strategy might also be of more practical use to the clinician, who could then examine how domain specific VS goal orientations might account for problematic depressive reactions with certain types of life events (e.g., social, achievement, etc.…”