Much research in the social-cognitive tradition has explored three cognitive components of personality: beliefs, goals, and evaluative standards

Much research in the social-cognitive tradition has explored three cognitive components of personality: beliefs, goals, and evaluative standards. The study of beliefs has included research on the role of cognitive generalizations about the self, or self-schemas. Research on goals has explored differences between types of goals, including learning versus performance goals. Work on evaluative standards has explored discrepancies between people’s views of their actual self and standards representing ideals versus oughts, or obligations.