Understanding Abuse Through SCT

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AbasedSocial Cognitive Theory (SCT) is used in learning and psychology to explain knowledge acquisition as well as beliefs through social interaction. According to this theory, what we learn and believe comes to be in society and not in isolation. This is possible through the interactions of cognitive/biological, environmental, and behavior factors. These interactions are explained through Triadic Reciprocal Determinism (TRD). Each factor interacts with each other but not necessarily balanced. The environment interacts with behavior offering cues of acceptance or rejection, these cues are interpreted cognitively and acted upon as a response to the environment. We are both influenced by our environment as we are influencers of it. We are not in total control of our circumstances but we are not completely controlled by them.

Abuse is a harmful, injurious, or offensive way of treatment. It could be both physical and psychological. Understanding abuse through SCT provides a foundation to depict abuse within a context, and also classification of interpretations and responses to it. For instance, abuse could be classified as an environmental factor or as a behavior depending on the abuser/victim perspective. When a person is abused it is interpreted and acted upon in response. In some cases victims of abuse become perpetrators in response. How a person responds to abuse or acts upon as an abuser depends on cognitive interpretations. Each instance of abuse has a specific context and multiple variables to be considered.

Behavioral cues towards the environment can provide insights of how abuse marked a person’s life. Retraction from social interaction, violence, hot temper, lack of coping skills are some examples of indications of abuse an its effects. Human’s cognitive capacity to interpret symbols and environmental cues provides the opportunity for individuals to surpass or conquer their circumstances using abuse antecedents as a form of a learning experience and motivation to improve their lives and help others find a path for rehabilitation.

FreedomThe scars of abuse might never disappear but how people respond to their past is a choice that is achievable through a renewal of the mind, the soul, the heart, and the spirit. Recognizing the marks of abuse is not an enjoyable experience and cleaning the wounds of the past could be a very painful experience. However, this could be the beginning of healing. Healing is a process that won’t happen in a day but it produces joy that was lost and the chance to enjoy life away from fear.

It Was Easy

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FreedomI remember back in college when some of my friends returned from the US armed forces basic training. They told very interesting stories. My favorite story is how at graduation they walked around telling each other, ‘It was easy!’ despite the fact that they cried almost every night for six months trying to cope with the rigorous mental and physical training. At graduation it was all over. The pain, the tears, and the effort were transformed in success. Everything they went through made them stronger or how they say it in the ARMY, it made them “ARMY strong” while others became “the few, the proud, the Marines”. All because they didn’t quit as many did. They decided to “aim high”… Well, enough of that. You get the message.

Social cognitive theory explains that people who persevere through challenges acquire a dependable source of efficacy expectations based on performance accomplishments. In other words, facing challenges provide a stronger sense of character allowing people to be prepared to face future obstacles. Without performance accomplishments efficacy expectation grow weaker and people become afraid to face challenges therefore they stop trying and become trapped by the status quo and mediocrity. Efficacy expectations can even transform failure (or what is conceived by some as failure) into corrective experiences which allow them to learn from the experience to try again until they succeed. The process is far from enjoyable but it pays off when it reaches its purpose.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11

Some people quit before they begin. You are not one of them. Don’t quit! Whatever it is you have to face, be assured, you can overcome. You made it through other difficult situations in the past. You can do it again. Use what you learned and the strong character you developed to persevere. Don’t follow the societal pattern that teaches and promotes mediocrity to avoid pain and frustration and as result developing weaker and weaker individuals. A challenge might not seem easy now but you will look back and say, ‘It was easy!’.