Final answer:
The primary component of Bandura's P factor is self-efficacy, which influences observational learning and is integral to his social-cognitive theory. It reflects our confidence in our own capabilities, shaped by our experiences and interactions through reciprocal determinism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary component of Bandura’s P factor, which stems from his social-cognitive theory, is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is our level of confidence in our own abilities, which is developed through our social experiences. This concept plays a significant role in observational learning, influencing which behaviors we choose to imitate and our success in performing those behaviors. According to Bandura’s social-cognitive perspective, self-efficacy, reciprocal determinism, and observational learning all contribute to personality development.
Bandura's theory is grounded in the principle of reciprocal determinism, which suggests a continual interaction between our behavior, cognitive processes (including self-efficacy), and the situational context. This means that our confidence in our abilities (self-efficacy) can affect our actions, and in turn, those actions can impact our environment and cognition, creating a feedback loop that influences our learning and personality.