The main goal of social cognitive theory is to define what observational learning is and how it takes place. The basis behind the idea of observational learning is that people learn how to act and behave based on their immediate environment. They will acquire the behaviors and attitudes of those around them.
A subsection of the observational learning premise in social cognitive theory is that people acquire their basic thought patterns and behaviors due to the direct influence of the environment around them. Proving this idea of environment directly affecting behavioral patterns is a goal of the social cognitive theory, because it helps to explain why people act and think the way that they do.
Another goal of the social cognitive theory is to define the circumstances in which a person changes his behavioral patterns. The theory suggests that when people change their habitat, environment or workplace, for example, their thoughts and ideas will change according to the new climate where they find themselves. For example, if a factory worker dislikes management because everyone else in the production area does, and the worker is suddenly promoted to a managerial position, after a while his opinion of management will change.
Self-efficacy is defined as a person's perception of his own future. A goal of social cognitive theory is to explain how an individual's self-efficacy can be affected due to his environment. For example, if someone lives in a poverty-stricken area, and most of its residents believe that there is no way to get out of poverty, the theory suggests that this person will also believe this is true and have a difficult time rising above it. On the other hand, if a person lives in a very wealthy area, the theory suggests that his self-efficacy is more positive in nature.