Evaluation of Social Learning Theory

Behaviorists argue that people are not born with a violent disposition; rather they learn to think and act violently as a result of their everyday experiences (Bandura, 1977). Albert Bandura (1977) states behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning. This popular behavioral notion is known as the social learning theory. Bandura believes that humans are active information processors and think about the relationship between their behavior and its consequences. Studies of family life, for example, show that aggressive children often model the violent behaviors of their parents. In 1961, Bandura conducted the famous bobo doll experiment in which children observed the people around them behaving in various ways. The experiment involved exposing children to two different adult models; an aggressive model and a non-aggressive one. After observing the adults and their aggressive or non-aggressive behavior, the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll by themselves. When they played with the doll by themselves, alone in a room, they began to imitate the actions they had previously observed by the adults. The children who had observed the adults aggressively playing with the doll imitated a similar aggressive behavior while playing with the doll alone. Those who observed the

304). Additionally, Bandura’s theory is based on the element of modeling and imitation, which how individuals observe and learn behavior from others. For instance, children may want to see what behavior would give them a greater chance for being successful in school and outside of school. Bandura conducted an experiment using random children, who watched a video of adults acting aggressively towards Bo-Bo dolls and a group of random children who did not watch a video (Tibbetts, & Hemmens, 2015, p. 304). The children were imitating what others were doing, so it explains why Bandura found that children became more aggressive after watching that

• Critics of the social learning Theory points the experiment that was carried out with the BOBO Doll

Noteworthy due mostly to the work of Albert Bandura, social learning theory attempts to explain behavior through the interaction of three variables: the environment, the behavior, and psychological processes. With his model, Bandura stepped away from strict behaviorism and opened the doors for the cognitivist movement. His premise is that human behavior and learning is influenced by a complex network of observations made about the behaviors, beliefs, and emotional responses of those in our

Conducting research on social learning is all well and good, but Albert Bandura saw a way to put all he had learned to work. He recognized that not putting his new-found knowledge to use would result in nothing more than wasted time and research. So, Bandura began a crusade. However, his cause would not be the only favorable affect Social Learning Theory would inspire.

Albert Bandura (1977), the originator of social learning theory, focused his research on the process of how people learn through observation. Social Learning stems from a cognitive and behavioral theory model. This is demonstrated through the well-known Bobo Doll experiment. The experiment entailed a child observing an adult being aggressive towards the Bobo Doll (Pavlov et al., 1961). The results indicated that children imitated the observed behaviors of being aggressive towards the doll (Pavlov et al., 1961).

Children form bonds with their parents from birth, so the idea that social learning theory is a reason that Joe has chosen to play piano is highly likely. This theory states that children see their parents as role models and identify themselves with one or both in order to gain a quality they wish to possess. Children will encode the behaviours they have observed, it has been seen in Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment (1961) that children later imitate behaviour.

Albert bandura played a significant role in the development of the social learning theory. The Social learning theory is a form of child development, which express that children learn by observing other individual behaviors. Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models that is that have been previous studies have expressed significant evidence that children imamate behavior exhibited by an adult. This study differs from other studies by introducing subjects into a new setting and removing the behavioral model.

A study conducted by Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) explored if observation and imitation rather than genetic aspects can teach social behaviour in children such as aggression. This was known as the bobo doll experiment. The independent variables consisted of three conditions, aggression, non-aggression and no model shown. Therefore the children’s level of aggression being the dependent variable. Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) wanted to identify if children can imitate through

The Social Learning Theory gained prominence by Albert Bandura. The theory states that the social behavior displayed by people is predominantly learned by the observation and imitation of those they are surrounded by. This theory future explains that people are influenced by being rewarded or punished for their behavior. The social behavior is also influenced, according to this theory, by

The aim of this study was to test observation learning and how children learned and modeled behaviors that they observed. During this study children were shown a

Social learning theory is also important when looking at Ruth and how she shaped who she was. Social learning theory is learning that occurs when someone observes, retains and replicates the behaviors that they observed someone else doing. Albert Bandura is the individual who is most typically associated with this theory and implemented studies in the area. There are two important ideas of this theory which are first, that “mediating processes occur between stimuli and responses” (Bandura, 1961). The second important aspect of his theory is that “behavior is learned from the environment through process of observational learning” (Bandura, 1961). The overall meaning of this theory is that people pick up behaviors from others and make them into their own.

A. Basic Concepts 1. Observational LearningThe Social Learning Theory says that people canlearn by watching other people perform the behavior. Observational learningexplains the nature of children to learn behaviors by watching the behaviorof the people around them, and eventually, imitating them. With the ―Bobo Doll‖ experiment(s) , Bandura included an adult who is tasked to actaggressively toward a Bobo Doll while the children observe him. Later,Bandura let the children play inside a room with the Bobo Doll.

Doherty and Hughes (2009, p. 309) initially introduced Albert Bandura’s social learning theory which was an extension from behaviourism. Bandura incorporates traditional learning theories such as operant conditioning, which was initially proposed by the likes of Skinner and Thorndike. This theory further emphasises that behaviours also can be learnt through the use of the environment, observation, role modelling and peers.

According to bandura (1963) “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.” Bandura (1971) explained “Social learning theory as a theory of learning and social behavior which proposes that new behaviors can be acquired by observing and imitating others.” Renzetti et. al, (2012) say that “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.” According to Muro & Jeffrey (2008) “Social learning theory is increasingly cited as an essential component of sustainable natural resource management and the promotion of desirable behavioural change.” (Bandura, 1977) “People learn through observing others’ behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those