What are the 4 principles of social learning theory?
- Learning is both behavioral and cognitive. ...
- Learning occurs through vicarious reinforcement–observing a behavior and its consequences (which have social ramifications).
- Learning involves observation, drawing conclusions from observations, and making subsequent decisions (that do not necessarily result in an observable change in behavior).
What are the benefits of social learning theory?
What Are The Significant Benefits Of Social Learning? 1. Asynchronous Conversation: Questions & Answers The new technologies allow to expand the course of learning in many... 2. Confidence Through Collaboration Many students simply enjoy helping their peers with their problems. Some of them... 3. ...
What is an example of the social learning theory?
- Attention - “Notice how the older students are always being quiet and respectful when in the library.”
- Retention - “We’re going to the library today - remember how the older students were so quiet? ...
- Production - Bringing the students to the library so they can apply what they learned and be quiet and respectful like the older students were.
What does social learning theory predict?
Social learning theory also accounts for conforming behaviour to the extent that the greater the number of definitions favourable to conventional norms, the less likely an individual is to engage in deviant or criminal acts.
When did Albert Bandura proposed the social learning theory?
1977In 1973, Bandura published Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis, which focused on the origins of aggression. His 1977 book Social Learning Theory presented the basics of his theory of how people learn through observation and modeling.
What was Bandura's social learning theory?
While the behavioral theories of learning suggested that all learning was the result of associations formed by conditioning, reinforcement, and punishment, Bandura's social learning theory proposed that learning can also occur simply by observing the actions of others.
Who invented social learning theory?
Albert Bandura'sAlbert Bandura's social learning theory suggests that observation and modeling play a primary role in how and why people learn. Bandura's theory goes beyond the perception of learning being the result of direct experience with the environment.
What is the main idea of social learning theory?
Social learning theory posits that people emulate the behavior they observe in their environment, especially if that behavior is reinforced in others.
What are the four steps of Bandura's social learning theory?
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.
How is Bandura's theory used in practice?
Social learning theory can be used to encourage and teach desirable behaviors in the classroom through the use of positive reinforcement and rewards. For example, a student who is praised for raising their hand to speak will more than likely repeat that behavior.
What is social learning theory in psychology?
Social learning theory is the philosophy that people can learn from each other through observation, imitation and modeling. The concept was theorized by psychologist Albert Bandura and combined ideas behind behaviorist and cognitive learning approaches.
What are Bandura's 3 models?
Bandura identified three kinds of models: live, verbal, and symbolic.
What is an example of social learning theory?
Children create great examples of social learning. For example, seven-year-old Mary observes her older sister jumping rope with her friends. The fo...
What is the main idea of social learning theory?
The main idea of social learning theory is that people learn through observation of behavior enacted by others. This behavior is later replicated b...
What are the four steps in social learning theory?
The social learning theory is based on four foundational factors that influence learning. They are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
What did Neil Miller and John Dollard do?
Under him, Neil Miller and John Dollard aimed to come up with a reinterpretation of psychoanalytic theory in terms of stimulus-response. This led to their book, Social Learning Theory, published in 1941, which posited that personality consisted of learned habits. They used Hull's drive theory, where a drive is a need that stimulates ...
What did Skinner believe about verbal behavior?
In the 1940s, B. F. Skinner delivered a series of lectures on verbal behavior, putting forth a more empirical approach to the subject than existed in psychology at the time. In them, he proposed the use of stimulus-response theories to describe language use and development, and that all verbal behavior was underpinned by operant conditioning. He did however mention that some forms of speech derived from words and sounds that had previously been heard (echoic response), and that reinforcement from parents allowed these 'echoic responses' to be pared down to that of understandable speech. While he denied that there was any "instinct or faculty of imitation", Skinner's behaviorist theories formed a basis for redevelopment into Social Learning Theory.
What is the difference between reinforcement value and expectancy value?
It can range from zero to one, with one representing 100% confidence in the outcome. For example, a person may entertain a given level of belief that they can make a foul shot in basketball or that an additional hour of study will improve their grade on an examination. Reinforcement value is defined as the individual's subjective preference for a given outcome , assuming that all possible outcomes were equally available. In other words, the two variables are independent of each other. These two variables interact to generate behavior potential, or the likelihood that a given action will be performed. The nature of the interaction is not specified, though Rotter suggests that it is likely to be multiplicative. The basic predictive equation is:
How does social learning help students?
Many classroom and teaching strategies draw on principles of social learning to enhance students' knowledge acquisition and retention. For example, using the technique of guided participation, a teacher says a phrase and asks the class to repeat the phrase. Thus, students both imitate and reproduce the teacher's action, aiding retention. An extension of guided participation is reciprocal learning, in which both student and teacher share responsibility in leading discussions. Additionally, teachers can shape the classroom behavior of students by modelling appropriate behavior and visibly rewarding students for good behavior. By emphasizing the teacher's role as model and encouraging the students to adopt the position of observer, the teacher can make knowledge and practices explicit to students, enhancing their learning outcomes.
How does attention affect learning?
Attention – in order to learn, observers must attend to the modeled behavior. Experimental studies have found that awareness of what is being learned and the mechanisms of reinforcement greatly boosts learning outcomes. Attention is impacted by characteristics of the observer (e.g., perceptual abilities, cognitive abilities, arousal, past performance) and characteristics of the behavior or event (e.g., relevance, novelty, affective valence, and functional value). In this way, social factors contribute to attention – the prestige of different models affects the relevance and functional value of observation and therefore modulates attention.
How do mirror neurons help with social learning?
Recent research in neuroscience has implicated mirror neurons as a neurophysiology basis for social learning, observational learning, motor cognition and social cognition. Mirror neurons have been heavily linked to social learning in humans. Mirror neurons were first discovered in primates in studies which involved teaching the monkey motor activity tasks. One such study, focused on teaching primates to crack nuts with a hammer. When the primate witnessed another individual cracking nuts with a hammer, the mirror neuron systems became activated as the primate learned to use the hammer to crack nuts. However, when the primate was not presented with a social learning opportunity, the mirror neuron systems did not activate and learning did not occur. Similar studies with humans also show similar evidence to the human mirror neuron system activating when observing another person perform a physical task. The activation of the mirror neuron system is thought to be critical for the understanding of goal directed behaviors and understanding their intention. Although still controversial, this provides a direct neurological link to understanding social cognition.
How does social learning work?
Social learning theory is a theory of learning process and social behavior which proposes that new behaviors can be acquired by observing and imitating others. It states that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context and can occur purely through observation or direct instruction, even in the absence of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement. In addition to the observation of behavior, learning also occurs through the observation of rewards and punishments, a process known as vicarious reinforcement. When a particular behavior is rewarded regularly, it will most likely persist; conversely, if a particular behavior is constantly punished, it will most likely desist. The theory expands on traditional behavioral theories, in which behavior is governed solely by reinforcements, by placing emphasis on the important roles of various internal processes in the learning individual.
What is the cognitive process of retention?
The cognitive processes underlying retention are described by Bandura as visual and verbal, where verbal descriptions of models are used in more complex scenarios. Reproduction – By reproduction, Bandura refers not to the propagation of the model but the implementation of it.
What did Skinner propose?
In them, he proposed the use of stimulus-response theories to describe language use and development , and that all verbal behavior was underpinned by operant conditioning. He did however mention that some forms of speech derived from words and sounds that had previously been heard (echoic response), and that reinforcement from parents allowed these ‘echoic responses’ to be pared down to that of understandable speech. While he denied that there was any “instinct or faculty of imitation”, Skinner’s behaviorist theories formed a basis for redevelopment into Social Learning Theory.
What is cultural intelligence?
The cultural intelligence hypothesis argues that humans possess a set of specific behaviors and skills that allow them to exchange information culturally. This hinges on a model of human learning where social learning is key, and that humans have selected for traits that maximize opportunities for social learning.
What are the principles of social learning?
Principles of Social Learning Theory have been applied extensively to the study of media violence. Akers and Burgess hypothesized that observed or experienced positive rewards and lack of punishment for aggressive behaviors reinforces aggression. Many research studies have discovered significant correlations between viewing violent television and aggression later in life and many have not, as well as playing violent video games and aggressive behaviors. The role of observational learning has also been cited as an important factor in the rise of rating systems for TV, movies, and video games.
What is Bandura's argument?
Specifically, Bandura argued that “the weaknesses of learning approaches that discount the influence of social variables are nowhere more clearly revealed than in their treatment of the acquisition of novel responses.”.
What is the motivation of a behavior?
Motivation – The decision to reproduce (or refrain from reproducing) an observed behavior is dependent on the motivations and expectations of the observer, including anticipated consequences and internal standards. Bandura’s description of motivation is also fundamentally based on environmental and thus social factors, since motivational factors are driven by the functional value of different behaviors in a given environment.
What is Noam Chomsky's theory of behavior?
While his theory used vocabulary common to that of behaviorism, the focus on internal functioning and traits differentiated his theories , and can be seen as a precursor to more cognitive approaches to learning. In 1959, Noam Chomsky published his criticism of Skinner’s book Verbal Behavior, an extension of Skinner’s initial lectures.
What is the Social Learning Theory?
The foundation of this theory shows that a personality does not only consist of observable behaviour, as traditional psychologists believe, but that cognitive processes play a crucial role in the changing or mastering of behaviour patterns.
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning : A distinction is made between two kinds of behaviour: respondent behaviour and operant behaviour. Respondent behaviour is an automatic reaction to a stimulus. When a person's retina is confronted with bright light, the person starts to blink. This reflex is involuntary and unintentional.
Why do people imitate behaviour?
The reason for someone to imitate behaviour is indicated as observational reinforcement: seeing the consequences a person experiences from the taken action. For example: a student receives a compliment from their teacher regarding the difficult calculations they made. Their classmate hears this compliment, which motivates them to also study the difficult assignments.
What is the process of behaviour change?
An important part of the process that initiates behaviour change is the observing of the consequences that certain behaviour has. However, not all behaviour is followed. Behaviour can only be changed when an individual has complete control over a situation and when they can realise certain outcomes. Bandura calls this concept self-effectivity.
What is reproduction in psychology?
Reproduction is the ability to perform internalised memories as behaviour. Many behaviour characteristics are retained on a daily basis, but not everything will be used later on. In some cases, the physical condition of the learner limits the desire to change behaviour.
What is the development mechanism that is called observational learning?
These consequences ensure that a person will or will not change their behaviour. From the moment a person is born, the development mechanism that is called observational learning, starts to work. Effectively, this means that people learn by observing what other people do. The reason for someone to imitate behaviour is indicated as observational ...
How does adaptation to the environment start?
The adaptation to the environment starts at a very young age. By observing , behaviour can be adapted or taught. By analysing the consequences that certain behaviour has, a process is or is not initiated that can change the behaviour. Role models with a high status are often looked up to. This is one of the factors that plays a role in the copying of behaviour. Albert Bandura shows, with his social learning theory, that good examples will be followed, but it also works the other way around.
What is Social Learning Theory?
Social learning theory operates from the viewpoint that people learn by observing actions performed by others and later executing those behaviors. It can be defined as learning that takes place through an observational process.
Social Learning Model
The social learning model is hinged on the notion that learning is shaped by four essential factors. These core mediational processes are outlined below:
What is the Bobo Doll?
Bandura developed what famously became known as the Bobo Doll experiments. In these studies, children watched adults model either violent or passive behavior towards a toy, the Bobo Doll. What the children saw influenced how they themselves subsequently interacted with the doll. Specifically, children who observed violent behavior imitated this behavior and were verbally and physically aggressive toward the doll. Children who witnessed nonviolent behavior behaved less aggressively toward the doll. In recent years, some psychologists have called Bandura’s original findings into question, labeling his experiments as biased, poorly designed, or even unethical.
What is sales incentive?
The sales incentive is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. The quarterly bonus, for instance, is offered to the sales agent who reaches his target goal. And he will likely strive to reach his future goals with such a stimulus.
What is operant conditioning?
In operant conditioning, coined by B.F. Skinner, we learn through reinforcement or punishment. We avoid touching a pot of boiling water, for example, because we will burn our fingertips. Skinner developed the operant conditioning chamber, later known as the Skinner Box, to study animal behavior. The chamber or box has a key or bar that can be pressed so that the animal obtains a reward like food or water. Manipulating the key meant food, that is the premise of reinforcement in learning.
How do children learn aggression?
Albert Bandura concluded that children learn aggression, violence, and other social behaviors through observation learning, or watching the behaviors of others. On the opposite end, kindness and compassion can be imitated as well.
What are the four processes of observational learning?
Observational learningrequires these four processes: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation. You have to pay attention to imitate behavior, retain or remember the behavior, reproduce the behavior, be motivated to reproduce it.
What is MIT's new algorithm?
MIT’s new socially intelligent machine-learning algorithm, inspired by psychology and cognitive science, can infer human goals and plans.
How do we learn?
There are different parts to this theory. First, we learn by observing others. Second, our mental state is important in the learning process. Third, learning doesn’t mean there will be a change in behavior.
Why is a child more likely to imitate behavior modeled by people of the same gender?
First, the child is more likely to attend to and imitate those people it perceives as similar to itself. Consequently, it is more likely to imitate behavior modeled by people of the same gender.
What is motivation in psychology?
Motivation: The will to perform the behavior. The rewards and punishment that follow a behavior will be considered by the observer. If the perceived rewards outweigh the perceived costs (if there are any), then the behavior will be more likely to be imitated by the observer. If the vicarious reinforcement is not seen to be important enough to the observer, then they will not imitate the behavior.
What is SCT theory?
It is for this reason that Bandura modified his theory and in 1986 renamed his Social Learning Theory, Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), as a better description of how we learn from our social experiences.
How many mediational processes are there?
There are four mediational processes proposed by Bandura:
How is behavior learned?
Behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning.
How is identification different from imitation?
Identification is different to imitation as it may involve a number of behaviors being adopted, whereas imitation usually involves copying a single behavior.
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behavior.
What is Albert Bandura's theory of social learning?
Albert Bandura's social learning theory suggests that observation and modeling play a primary role in how and why people learn. Bandura's theory goes beyond the perception of learning being the result of direct experience with the environment.
How can social learning be used in the workplace?
Social learning can be used effectively in the workplace to observe and model productive behaviors. However, social learning does not occur passively. Attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation are required in order to benefit from social learning practices.
What Is Social Learning Theory?
The behaviorists proposed that all learning was a result of direct experience with the environment through the processes of association and reinforcement. 3 Bandura's theory believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning.
What did Bandura say about reinforcement?
Bandura noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. And he realized that reinforcement does not always come from outside sources. 1 Your own mental state and motivation play an important role in determining whether a behavior is learned or not.
What are the three models of observational learning?
Bandura identified three basic models of observational learning: 1 A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior. 2 A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media. 3 A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior.
What are some classroom strategies that are rooted in social learning theory?
Other classroom strategies such as encouraging children and building self-efficacy are also rooted in social learning theory. As Bandura observed, life would be incredibly difficult and even dangerous if you had to learn everything you know from personal experience.
What is intrinsic reinforcement?
He described intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal rewards, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. 7 This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many textbooks place social learning theory with behavioral theories, Bandura himself describes his approach as a 'social cognitive theory.'
What did Bandura's experiments show?
One of the best-known experiments in the history of psychology involved a doll named Bobo. Bandura demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviors they have observed in other people. The children in Bandura’s studies observed an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll.
How is human behavior learned?
Bandura goes on to explain that "Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions, this coded information serves as a guide for action."
Overview
History and theoretical background
In the 1941s, B. F. Skinner delivered a series of lectures on verbal behavior, putting forth a more empirical approach to the subject than existed in psychology at the time. In them, he proposed the use of stimulus-response theories to describe language use and development, and that all verbal behavior was underpinned by operant conditioning. He did however mention that some forms of speech derived from words and sounds that had previously been heard (echoic response), and t…
Theory
Social Learning Theory integrated behavioral and cognitive theories of learning in order to provide a comprehensive model that could account for the wide range of learning experiences that occur in the real world. As initially outlined by Bandura and Walters in 1963, the theory was entirely behavioral in nature; the crucial element that made it innovative and increasingly influential was its emphasis upon the role of imitation. Over the years, however, Bandura shifted to a more cogniti…
Social learning in neuroscience
Recent research in neuroscience has implicated mirror neurons as a neurophysiology basis for social learning, observational learning, motor cognition and social cognition. Mirror neurons have been heavily linked to social learning in humans. Mirror neurons were first discovered in primates in studies which involved teaching the monkey motor activity tasks. One such study, focused on teaching primates to crack nuts with a hammer. When the primate witnessed another individual …
Applications
Social learning theory has been used to explain the emergence and maintenance of deviant behavior, especially aggression. Criminologists Ronald Akers and Robert Burgess integrated the principles of social learning theory and operant conditioning with Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory to create a comprehensive theory of criminal behavior. Burgess and Akers emphasized that criminal behavior is learned in both social and nonsocial situations through co…
External links
• Media related to Social learning theory at Wikimedia Commons
What Is The Social Learning Theory?
Operant Conditioning
- Operant conditioning: A distinction is made between two kinds of behaviour: respondent behaviour and operant behaviour. Respondent behaviour is an automatic reaction to a stimulus. When a person’s retina is confronted with bright light, the person starts to blink. This reflex is involuntary and unintentional. Operant behaviour on the other hand, is entirely voluntary and co…
Conclusion
- The adaptation to the environment starts at a very young age. By observing, behaviour can be adapted or taught. By analysing the consequences that certain behaviour has, a process is or is not initiated that can change the behaviour. Role models with a high status are often looked up to. This is one of the factors that plays a role in the copying of behaviour. Albert Bandurashows, wit…
Now It Is Your Turn
- What do you think? Do you recognise certain behaviour that you copied or adapted after you observed how someone else did it? Do you see other people imitate behaviour of role models? Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.
More Information
- Bandura, A. (1962). Social learning through imitation. In M. Jones (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
- Bandura, A. (1971). Social learning theory. General Learning Press, Morristown.
- Kirsch, I. et. al, (2004). The role of cognition in classical and operant conditioning.