Final answer:
Social agency theory explores individual actions within society, emphasizing the ability to act on one's will amid social influences. A behavioral perspective might attribute behavior to environmental stimuli and observational learning, where individuals mimic behaviors rewarded or punished in social contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social agency theory refers to the concept within social psychology that examines how individuals participate and act within a society as independent agents. It emphasizes the role of individual actions and the capacity to act upon one's own will, even within the influence of the social structure. On the other hand, a behavioral perspective might explain the observed effects of social agency by focusing on how behavior is influenced by environmental stimuli, including social roles, norms, and scripts.
Behavioral theories suggest that the environment provides cues on how to behave, and these cues affect an individual's actions. From a behavioral standpoint, if a person finds themselves in an unfamiliar situation, they might look to others in the environment to understand how to act appropriately. This mimicry or reinforcement learning is tied to the concept of observational learning, where an individual observes and imitates the behavior of others, recognizing patterns that are either rewarded or punished within a social context.