Amanda Gerson Career Portfolio

Theory Presentation

NFSC 600: Nutrition Education

Skill Area: Nutrition Education

Assignment Title: Social Cognitive Theory

What I learned: By completing this assignment I learned in detail the history, concepts, and constructs of the social cognitive theory. Also, I learned how to apply the theory to a nutrition education intervention by using the constructs of the theory as a guide.

 Reflection of the assignment: This assignment gave me a better understanding of the social cognitive theory and how the theory came about. Theory provides the backbone of most nutrition research, education, and interventions. Behavioral change theories are essentially the fundamentals to nutrition education interventions. It is interesting and useful to use theory, such as the social cognitive theory, to develop a nutrition education program.

Reflection to the profession: Whether counseling clients, developing interventions, or creating a nutrition education program, theory can be used as the underlying outline for such activities. Theory can be used to organize the influencing variables, or the theory constructs, into a proper education or intervention design for your target. Further, theories are derived from evidence and can help nutrition professionals understand how there are many influences on food-related behavior, and theories can be used to help predict or change a behavior.