This paper will be discussing Albert Bandura, a social cognitive psychologist known for his findings (verywell). Albert Bandura is a well-known psychologist who specializes in the development of psychology and educational psychology (good therapy). He is best known for the Bobo doll experiment, Social Learning Theory, Observational Learning and Self-efficacy(verywell). This paper will analyze Bandura's theories and studies towards observational learning, which is a form of social learning. Bandura's social learning theory underlined the significance of observational learning, imitation, and modeling (verywell). Due to the help of Bandura and his experiments, he led others to have a better understanding of how kids learn.
Literature Review
Albert Bandura is a well-known psychologist who specializes in the development of psychology and educational psychology (good therapy). Bandura completed his PhD in clinical psychology back in 1952 and then began teaching at Stanford University (apa). He is also one the nine scientists to receive the national medal of science back in 1959 which is the highest honors to be granted (apa). Along with that, he was honored in 1980 to receive the American Psychological Associations Distinguished Scientific Contribution award, in 2003 the James McKeen Cattell award, in 2004 the APA outstanding lifetime contribution to psychology, and 2008 the Grawemeyer award for psychology (apa). Bandura has influenced the social, cognitive, developmental, educational and clinical psychology with his social learning theory and concept on self-efficacy (apa). After working with Richard Walters he began to research observational learning, in which most of his work is centered around the social learning theory (good therapy). Back in 1991 he completed one of his well-known experiments, the Bobo Doll (apa). Some people criticized him for exposing the kids to aggressive behavior, but it was a study to prove that children learn through others which is called the social learning theory (good therapy). Each of his theories have been reworked into new theories by him. For example, he reworked the social learning theory into the social cognitive theory, then from that the self-efficacy was born (apa). Self-efficacy plays a big role in life because people who believe they can achieve something are more likely to achieve than ones who don’t believe (good therapy). Bandura also had a social cognitive theory stating behavior is driven by a combination of cues, responses and rewards. His theory of moral agency is a spin-off of his social cognitive theory (good therapy). He believes that people’s behavior can be self-regulated and that they can act either humane or inhumane (good therapy).
Discussion
The Social Learning Theory is based on how an individual learns from their interactions with other people, especially by observing them, which allows them to develop similar behaviors. Social learning theory explains human behavior through the combination of cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences (simply psychology). The social learning theory combines two theories. The first is the Cognitive learning theory, which asserts that learning is influenced by psychological factors (psychology today). The second is the Behavioral learning theory, which states that learning is based on responses and environmental stimuli (psychology today). Psychologist Albert Bandura combined the two theories and came up with four requirements for learning. The first is observation, which is environmental, the second is retention, which is cognitive, the third is reproduction, which cognitive as well, and the fourth, motivation which is a combination of both. This combining approach to learning was soon introduced as the Social Learning Theory. Usually after observing others, the individual begins to imitate the behavior, especially if they are positive or have rewards (simply psychology). The theory concludes that a person can attain new information and behaviors simply by watching others. The theory asserts that an individual learns through 3 steps: observation, imitation and modeling (psychology today). An example of that theory can be found in one of Bandura's famous experiments, the Bobo doll experiment. In the experiment, children observed the adults as they modeled either violent or passive behavior towards the doll. This observation led to influence the way the children interacted with the dolls after observing the adults. As expected, children who observed violent behavior behaved violently toward the doll and vice versa (psychology today). Another aspect to Bandura’s theory, is reciprocal determinism. Reciprocal Determinism is a model made up from three factors that influence one’s behavior (verywell). The three factors are the environment, the individual, and the behavior itself (verywell). Bandura concludes that an individual’s behavior both influences and is influenced by the environment and personal characteristics (verywell).
Limitations of These Studies
There are several limitations to his studies and theories. To begin, the theory assumes that changes in the environment will lead to changes in the individual’s behavior, which is not always true (LaMorte 2016). The theory mainly focuses on the processes of learning and does not pay attention to the biological and hormonal predispositions that may influence behaviors (LaMorte 2016). In addition, the theory does not focus on emotion or motivation, other than through its reference to past experience (LaMorte 2016). To add on, the theory is not organized, because it does not give clear explanation on the extent of impact each factor has on the actual behavior, and whether if one is more influential than the other (LaMorte 2016). Another limitation to the theory shows that the experiment cannot be generalized, and is also broad-reaching. An Example is Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment, where all the participants were from the Stanford University nursery (Nabavi 2012). The young children in that theory do not represent the population and does not necessarily apply to the general public (Nabavi 2012). In addition, the theory did not explain what is an exact ‘reward’, because a reward to one child can be a punishment to another (Nabavi 2012).
Conclusions and Future Study
In order to gain a complete and accurate understanding of Albert Banduras Social Cognitive Learning Theory, it is necessary to examine all aspects of Banduras Social Cognitive Learning Theory. In some recent findings, it was asserted that Albert Bandura agrees with the behaviorist learning theories of classical conditioning and operant conditioning (McLeod, 2016). However, he adds two important ideas, the first is the processes occurring between the stimuli and responses, while the second discusses the behavior that is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning (McLeod, 2016). According to Albert Bandura, Children observe the people around them behaving in various ways. This is illustrated during the famous Bobo doll experiment (McLeod 2016).
In further studies to show Albert Banduras findings he says that reinforcement can have a positive or negative response from children. Furthermore, the child will also take into account of what happens to other people when deciding whether or not to copy someone’s actions (McLeod, 2016). A person learns by observing the consequences of another person’s (i.e., models) behavior, e.g., a younger sister observing an older sister being rewarded for a particular behavior is more likely to repeat that behavior herself (McLeod, 2016). This is known as "vicarious reinforcement" (McLeod, 2016). As each kind of Learning becomes prevalent, it is important to always examine and discover all ways of social learning and behaviors of children. To further knowledge of the cognitive behavior in learning for children is to always look for a better understanding of one's behavioral patterns when learning. In conclusion SLT is the bridge between learning traditionally and a more cognitive approach to the situation.
When looking at aggressive, violence, and delinquency social learning theory plays a huge part. According to Albert Bandura, Social learning theories suggest that children learn to exhibit aggressive behaviors because they observe others acting aggressively and can see how these behaviors are reinforced over time (Leff, S. & Posner, J., 2009). Also, according to Bandura, Social Learning Theory posits learning through the observations of others. Not surprisingly, research has established a link between parenting style and internalizing problems in youth (Detweiler, M. and Albano, A. 2014). Parents not only can serve as powerful models of social behavior for children, but also have a unique opportunity to shape their children's behavior over the course of years through parent–child interactions (Detweiler, M. and Albano, A. 2014). Non-anxious toddlers have been shown to display anxious and avoidant behavior to a stranger after observing their mothers react fearfully (Detweiler, M. and Albano, A. 2014). Furthermore, the modeling theory draws from social learning theory and proposes that an individual’s body image is modeled by the attitudes and behaviors of significant others (Rodger, R., 2012). In this way, a child might observe its parent’s attitude toward its own body, the way they dress or refer to their body, and learn that this is the appropriate way to feel or behave (Rodger, R., 2012). In the same way, elder siblings can be perceived to be good sources of comparison or information in terms of how to interpret body image information or how to construct one’s own body image (Rodger, R., 2012).
So, in conclusion to Albert Banduras Social Learning Theory people will understand that behavioral patterns and the environment provides children a model to follow. The need to further examine youth for future studies is detrimental to learning more theories for better understanding.