Limitations of the Model
- The wrong behavior learned should not be blamed on the person performing the action because such behavior was observed incorrectly.
- Although behavior can be learned through observation according to this theory, other behaviors are performed through emotional responses determined largely by biological factors, or hormonal responses. Hormones can affect one's decision-making abilities and therefore change one's behavior. There could also be differences in people's genetics that could change their behavior such as clinical depression.
- The theory focuses on the implementation of just one or two concepts such as self-efficacy.
- Advocates of the social cognitive theory also assume that behavior is primarily learned through observation, expectation and reinforcement. However, it ignores that as people move through life, their behavioral patterns can change drastically with little change to their environment.
- Also when it comes to behavior determining whether the subject at hand should initiate a behavior is purely on that of the being.
- Worrying about getting a mammogram in case it is cancerous prevents people from scheduling an appointment, but worrying could also lead people to schedule an appointment to prevent breast cancer. [5]