Final answer:
Albert Bandura's social-cognitive theory suggests that our personality is formed through reciprocal determinism, where our behavior, cognitive process, and environmental context mutually influence each other. Self-efficacy and cultural factors also play a significant role in shaping our individual differences in personality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social-cognitive theory, developed by Albert Bandura, posits that personality is shaped by a dynamic interplay of environmental factors, behavioral patterns, and cognitive processes known as reciprocal determinism. Unlike B.F. Skinner, who emphasized on learned behaviors via reinforcements and punishments, Bandura highlighted that our thought processes (cognition) and the ability to learn from observing others (observational learning) are integral to developing our personality traits. Factors such as self-efficacy, which reflects our confidence in our abilities from social experiences, and cultural influences also contribute to making us who we are. Cultural contexts encompass beliefs, customs, values, and traditions transmitted through language and behaviors, further influencing personality development. The interactive effect of our actions, thoughts, and the environment constitutes the essence of Bandura's view on personality development.