Steven D. Brown

Steven D. Brown 

Steven D. Brown is a professor and researcher who teaches at Loyola University, Chicago.  Brown has spent his career in counseling and higher education developing a number of theories with important applications in career counseling. His theories are closely related to and draw on the research and learning theory of Albert Bandura; Bandura's theory is know as Social Cognitive Theory. Contemporaries of Brown who have developed career and behavior theories based upon the Social Cognitive Theory include John Krumboltz, Robert W. Lent, and Gail Hackett.

Together with Lent and Hackett, Brown developed the Social Cognitive Learning Theory (or what is sometimes referred to as the Social Cognitive Career Theory or Social Cognitive Career Choice) in 1994.  Their research and writing on Social Cognitive Learning Theory has continued to develop over the last two decades since its original publication.

Drawing on Bandura, Lent, Brown, and Hackett argue that individuals unique learning experiences (social learning) are vital components that impact the development of personalities, behaviors and choices. They argue that personal factors such as beliefs, personal experiences, and environmental factors interact in order to impact our human development and behaviors.

Image Source: Hackett presentation at University Missouri-Kansas City found here.

More specifically, the Social Cognitive Learning Theory that Brown and his colleagues draw on suggests that two types of learning experiences, instrumental and associative, strongly influence career decisions and choices.  Instrumental learning experiences are related to rewards and punishments.  The idea is that individuals are more likely to try something again if they were rewarded the first time they tried it and not as likely to try it again if they were punished upon their first attempt.  Associative learning experiences are lessons that we as individuals internalize based on what we have observed others experience and/or what we perceive society to encourage or discourage.

Brown and his colleagues suggest that it is important in career counseling to help clients build positive self efficacy expectations so that they can set goals and engage in behaviors that contribute to them believing those goals are achievable.

Image Source: ACM found here.

In his own research and writing, Brown has applied the Social Cognitive Learning Theory as it relates to careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

For a simple overview of Social Cognitive Learning Theory look at the Microsoft Word handout provided on the University of South Florida's website here.