Social learning theory- Albert Bandura

Social theorists’ believe that to understand how people acquire behaviours, behaviours such as helping & sharing, we must appreciate the relationship between behaviour & the environment.

The Social Learning approach acknowledges the role of thought processes.

Albert Bandura’s theory of learning is based on the primary concept that one learns from one another and observations, imitation and modelling.

The development of learning processes and social behaviour.

The emphasis is on the significance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others

A key element of this theory is that in order to change behaviour a child or person does not always need to be punished or have the behaviour reinforced to change it.

He believed that we learn primarily via observing and imitating others and by watching the consequences of others.

Albert Bandura  was a Canadian social cognitive psychologist .

He was best known for

• Bobo doll studies
• Observational learning
• Social learning theory
• Self-efficacy.

He has been regarded as on the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. He is closely behind the greats of Sigmund Freud & Jean Piaget.

He proposed what is considered one of the most influential theories of learning and development – the ‘social learning theory’.

He believed that imitation and observation are often under rated.

Observational learning, which is the social aspect of his theory, is where behaviour is learned through observation, imitation and modelling which is influences by the environment around them. Through observation children encode the behaviour.

At a later time they imitate this behaviour they have watched.

Within his Social Learning Theory lies three main concepts.

1. People learn through observation
2. The mental state is a fundamental part of the process
3. Whilst behaviour is learned through observation, this does not always result in changed behaviour of the observer.

Albert Bandura considered that there were specific factors influence the success of learning.

Observational learning could not occur unless cognitive processes are present.

A child does not automatically observe the behavior of a model and imitate it.

A child observes the behaviour known as the stimulus.

Prior to imitation which is known as the response they will consider the behaviour.

The consideration of the behaviour observed is the Social Learning Theory Mediational Processes

In order to achieve learning certain steps must take place and which influence the the observational learning and modeling process:

Attention:

By paying attention to the role model whether that is the characteristics, the behaviour, etc.

This is necessary for a person to be able to learn with sufficient attention.

Retention:

This is how the behaviour is remembered. In order for the child to use the behaviour that they have observed they need to store it and encode it for the future use.

The storing of information is critical as part of the process.

Reproduction:

This is where they select the behaviour they have observed and carry it out. This is influenced by the child’s level of development which impacts the child’s capability to reproduce the behaviour.

Practice of this behaviour assists with the improvement of skills.

Motivation:

Once a child must be motivated to repeat the learned behaviour. A child will reproduce the behaviour.

Reinforcement can be internal or external and can be positive or negative. Reinforcement influences the child during this phase. It acts to either encourage or deter the child from having the motivation to repeat the modeled behaviour.

This provides the child with further information about what might happen if they were to do this behaviour again.

He believes that children remember the consequences of the behaviour and they don’t have to experience this first hand. A child learns by observing the consequences of another.