One of the most influential learning theories, the Social Learning Theory (SLT), was formulated by Albert Bandura. It encompasses concepts of traditional learning theory and the operant conditioning of B.F. Skinner. Show
Discover 30 more articles on this topic However, the theory strongly implies that there are types of learning wherein direct reinforcement is not the causal mechanism; rather, the so called social element can result to the development of new learning among individuals. Social Learning Theory has been useful in explaining how people can learn new things and develop new behaviors by observing other people. It is to assume, therefore, that Social Learning Theory is concerned on observational learning process among people. A. Basic Concepts
B. Modeling ProcessThe Modeling Process developed by Bandura helps us understand that not all observed behaviors could be learned effectively, nor learning can necessarily result to behavioral changes. The modeling process includes the following steps in order for us to determine whether social learning is successful or not: Step 1: AttentionSocial Cognitive Theory implies that you must pay attention for you to learn. If you want to learn from the behavior of the model (the person that demonstrates the behavior), then you should eliminate anything that catches your attention other than him. Also, the more interesting the model is, the more likely you are to pay full attention to him and learn. Step 2: RetentionRetention of the newly learned behavior is necessary. Without it, learning of the behavior would not be established, and you might need to get back to observing the model again since you were not able to store information about the behavior. Step 3: ReproductionWhen you are successful in paying attention and retaining relevant information, this step requires you to demonstrate the behavior. In this phase, practice of the behavior by repeatedly doing it is important for improvement. Step 4: MotivationFeeling motivated to repeat the behavior is what you need in order to keep on performing it. This is where reinforcement and punishment come in. You can be rewarded by demonstrating the behavior properly, and punished by displaying it inappropriately. By Charlotte Nickerson, published May 05, 2022 | Fact Checked by Saul Mcleod, PhD Key Points
History and OverviewSocial cognitive theory views people as active agents who can both influence and are influenced by their environment. The theory is an extension of social learning that includes the effects of cognitive processes — such as conceptions, judgment, and motivation — on an individual's behavior and on the environment that influences them. Rather than passively absorbing knowledge from environmental inputs, social cognitive theory argues that people actively influence their learning by interpreting the outcomes of their action, which, in turn, affects their environments and personal factors, informing and altering subsequent behavior (Schunk, 2012). By including thought processes in human psychology, Social Cognitive Theory is able to avoid the assumption made by radical behaviorism that all human behavior is learnt through trial and error. Instead, Bandura highlights the role of observational learning and imitation in human behavior Numerous psychologists, such as Julian Rotter and the American personality psychologist Walter Mischel have proposed different social-cognitive perspectives. Albert Bandura (1989) introduced the most prominent perspective on social cognitive theory. Bandura's perspective has been applied to a wide range of topics, such as personality development and functioning, the understanding and treatment of psychological disorders, organizational training programs, education, health promotion strategies, advertising and marketing, and more. The central tenet of Bandura's social-cognitive theory is that people seek to develop a sense of agency and exert control over the important events in their lives. This sense of agency and control is affected by factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and self-evaluation (Schunk, 2012). Social cognitive theory can trace its origins to Bandura and his colleagues; in particular, a series of well-known studies on observational learning known as the Bobo Doll experiments. In these experiments, researchers exposed young, preschool aged children to videos of an adult acting violently toward a large, inflatable doll. This aggressive behavior included verbal insults and physical violence, such as slapping and punching. At the end of the video, the children either witnessed the aggressor being rewarded, punished, or receive no consequences for his behavior (Schunk, 2012). After being exposed to this model, the children were placed in a room where they were given the same inflatable Bobo doll. The researchers found that those who had watched the model either receive positive reinforcement or no consequences for attacking the doll were more likely to show aggressive behavior toward the doll (Schunk, 2012). This experiment was notable for being one that introduced the concept of observational learning to humans. Bandura's ideas about observational learning were in stark contrast to previous behaviorists, such as B.F. Skinner. According to Skinner (1950), learning can only be achieved through individual action. However, Bandura claimed that people and animals can also learn through watching and imitating the models they encounter in their environment, enabling them to acquire information more quickly. Observational LearningBandura agreed with the behaviorists that behavior is learnt through experience however he proposed a different mechanism than conditioning. He argued that we learn through observation and imitation of others’ behavior. This theory focuses not only on the behavior itself but also on the mental processes involved in learning so it is not a pure behaviorist theory. Stages of the Social Learning Theory (SLT)Not all observed behaviors are learned effectively. There are several factors involving both the model and the observer that determine whether or not a behavior is learned. These include attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation (Bandura & Walters, 1963).
Imitation is more likely to occur if the model (the person who performs the behavior) is positively reinforced. This is called vicarious reinforcement. Imitation is also more likely if we identify with the model. We see them as sharing some characteristics with us i.e. similar age, gender, social status as we identify with them. The goal of social cognitive theory is to explain how people regulate their behavior through control and reinforcement in order to achieve goal-directed behavior that can be maintained over time. Bandura, in his original formulation of the related social learning theory, included five constructs, adding self-efficacy to his final social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986). Reciprocal DeterminismReciprocal determinism is the central concept of social cognitive theory, and refers to the dynamic and reciprocal interaction of people — individuals with a set of learned experiences — the environment, or external social context, and behavior — the response to stimuli to achieve goals. Its main tenet is that people seek to develop a sense of agency and exert control over the important events in their lives. This sense of agency and control is affected by factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, and self-evaluation (Bandura, 1989). To illustrate the concept of reciprocal determinism, Consider A student who believes they have the ability to succeed on an exam (self-efficacy) is more likely to put forth the necessary effort to study (behavior). If they do not believe they can pass the exam, they are less likely to study. As a result, their beliefs about their abilities (self-efficacy) will be affirmed or disconfirmed by their actual performance on the exam (outcome). This in turn will affect future beliefs and behavior. If the student passes the exam, they are likely to believe they can do well on future exams and put forth the effort to study. If they fail, they may doubt their abilities (Bandura, 1989). Behavioral CapabilityBehavioral capability, meanwhile, refers to a person's ability to perform a behavior by means of using their own knowledge and skills. That is to say, in order to carry out any behavior, a person must know what to do and how to do it. People learn from the consequences of their behavior, further affecting the environment in which they live (Bandura, 1989). ReinforcementsReinforcements refer to the internal or external responses to a person's behavior that affect the likelihood of continuing or discontinuing the behavior. These reinforcements can be self-initiated or in one's environment, and either positive or negative. Positive reinforcements increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while negative reinforcers decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Reinforcements can also be either direct or indirect. Direct reinforcements are an immediate consequence of a behavior that affects its likelihood, such as getting a paycheck for working (positive reinforcement). Indirect reinforcements are not immediate consequences of a behavior but may affect its likelihood in the future, such as studying hard in school to get into a good college (positive reinforcement) (Bandura, 1989). ExpectationsExpectations, meanwhile, refer to the anticipated consequences that a person has of their behavior. Outcome expectations, for example, could relate to the consequences that someone foresees an action having on their health. As people anticipate the consequences of their actions before engaging in a behavior, these expectations can influence whether or not someone completes the behavior successfully (Bandura, 1989). Expectations largely come from someone's previous experience. Nonetheless, expectancies also focus on the value that is placed on the outcome, something that is subjective from individual to individual. For example, a student who may not be motivated by achieving high grades may place a lower value on taking the steps necessary to achieve them than someone who strives to be a high performer. Self-EfficacySelf-efficacy refers to the level of a person's confidence in their ability to successfully perform a behavior. Self-efficacy is influenced by a person's own capabilities as well as other individual and environmental factors. These factors are called barriers and facilitators (Bandura, 1989). Self-efficacy is often said to be task-specific, meaning that people can feel confident in their ability to perform one task but not another. For example, a student may feel confident in their ability to do well on an exam but not feel as confident in their ability to make friends. This is because self-efficacy is based on past experience and beliefs. If a student has never made friends before, they are less likely to believe that they will do so in the future. Modeling Media and Social Cognitive TheoryLearning would be both laborious and hazardous in a world that relied exclusively on direct experience. Social modeling provides a way for people to observe the successes and failures of others with little or no risk. This modeling can take place on a massive scale. Modeling media is defined as "any type of mass communication—television, movies, magazines, music, etc.—that serves as a model for observing and imitating behavior" (Bandura, 1998). In other words, it is a means by which people can learn new behaviors. Modeling media is often used in the fashion and taste industries to influence the behavior of consumers. This is because modeling provides a reference point for observers to imitate. When done effectively, modeling can prompt individuals to adopt certain behaviors that they may not have otherwise engaged in. Additionally, modeling media can provide reinforcement for desired behaviors. For example, if someone sees a model wearing a certain type of clothing and receives compliments for doing so themselves, they may be more likely to purchase clothing like that of the model. Observational Learning ExamplesThere are numerous examples of observational learning in everyday life, in people of all ages. Nonetheless, observational learning is especially prevalent in the socialization of children. For example:
Social Learning vs. Social Cognitive TheorySocial learning theory and Social Cognitive Theory are both theories of learning that place an emphasis on the role of observational learning. However, there are several key differences between the two theories. Social learning theory focuses on the idea of reinforcement, while Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes. Additionally, social learning theory posits that all behavior is learned through observation, while Social Cognitive Theory allows for the possibility of learning through other means, such as direct experience. Finally, social learning theory focuses on individualistic learning, while Social Cognitive Theory takes a more holistic view, acknowledging the importance of environmental factors. Though they are similar in many ways, the differences between social learning theory and Social Cognitive Theory are important to understand. These theories provide different frameworks for understanding how learning takes place. As such, they have different implications in all facets of their applications (Reed et al., 2010). Charlotte Nickerson is a member of the Class of 2024 at Harvard University. Coming from a research background in biology and archeology, Charlotte currently studies how digital and physical space shapes human beliefs, norms, and behaviors and how this can be used to create businesses with greater social impact. Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Nickerson, C. (2022, May 05). Social Cognitive Theory: How We Learn From the Behavior of Others. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/social-cognitive-theory.html
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191. Bandura, A. (1986). Fearful expectations and avoidant actions as coeffects of perceived self-inefficacy. Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American psychologist, 44(9), 1175. Bandura, A. (1998). Health promotion from the perspective of social cognitive theory. Psychology and health, 13(4), 623-649. Bandura, A. (2003). Social cognitive theory for personal and social change by enabling media. In Entertainment-education and social change (pp. 97-118). Routledge. Bandura, A. Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through the imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575-582. LaMort, W. (2019). The Social Cognitive Theory. Boston University. Reed, M. S., Evely, A. C., Cundill, G., Fazey, I., Glass, J., Laing, A., ... & Stringer, L. C. (2010). What is social learning?. Ecology and society, 15(4). Schunk, D. H. (2012). Social cognitive theory. Skinner, B. F. (1950). Are theories of learning necessary?. Psychological Review, 57(4), 193. What are the 4 elements of social learning theory?There are four elements to social learning theory including:. Attention. Children can't learn if they aren't focused on the task. ... . Retention. People learn by internalizing information. ... . Reproduction. We reproduce our previously learned behavior or knowledge when it's required. ... . Motivation.. What are the 4 phases of Bandura's model?He explored the question of what needs to happen for an observable behavior to be learned (in addition to observation) and cited four necessary steps: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
What are the 4 processes of observational learning?Observational learning is a major component of Bandura's social learning theory. He also emphasized that four conditions were necessary in any form of observing and modeling behavior: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
What are the four Mediational processes proposed by Bandura?The four mediational processes proposed by Bandura are attention (whether we notice the behaviour); retention (whether we remember the behaviour); reproduction (whether we are able to perform the behaviour); and motivation (whether the perceived rewards outweigh the perceived costs).
|