AIDSQuest: The HIV/AIDS Survey Library
Behavioral and Social Theories Commonly Used
in HIV Research

F. Social Cognitive Theory

Developed by A. Bandura, Social Cognitive Theory is also referred to as Social Learning Theory (which is an earlier version). Social Cognitive Theory asserts that providing information alone is not sufficient to change behavior, rather sustained behavior change requires the skills to engage in the behavior and the ability to use these skills consistently and under difficult circumstances. It posits that behavior change requires four components:

1. An informational component to increase awareness and knowledge of health risk and to convince people that they can change their behavior (educating people about HIV/AIDS and showing them they can change).

2. A component to develop the self-control and risk-reduction skills needed to prevent the behavior (showing people what their risks are and how they can change them).

3. A component to increase an individual's self-efficacy in implementing these behaviors (specific efforts to show people how to use condoms, how to negotiate safer sex, how to say “no”).

4. A component to build social support for the individual as s/he engages in the new behaviors (support groups).

Bandura, A. 1973. Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

———. 1986. Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.