Social Cognitive Theory - Essay Example

The theory argues that individuals use the environment as the platform and source of knowledge used to guide behaviors and determine personalities.

A counselor can choose to use the Social Cognitive Theory when dealing with a high school student facing confusion as to the kind of career to purpose. The student may be interested in a given career such as teaching but depicting behaviors that are not appropriate for the teaching career. For example, the student may introvert and has low motivation to research. The student may also like doing things in isolation than group (Brown & Lent, 2013). 

The counselor may also encourage and admit the student in tasks that require group participation so that the latter can develop skills and behaviors that support open socialization and corporation. The counselor may also urge the student to identify the best teacher and note the characters that make them perform to attract admiration. The counselor should then train and encourage the student to emulate and practice the behaviors of the role-model teacher (Brown & Lent, 2013).

The choice of the Social Cognitive Theory relates to its ease to assist in effective counseling of career-related problems. Focus on social interactions and environmental influences on human behavior provide immediate elements to check when attending to a client. It is easier to analyze and influence the behaviors of a client by studying the social and environmental forces that influence decisions.