StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Theory of Social Learning - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "The Theory of Social Learning" is about Albert Bandura’s Theory of Social Learning puts emphasis on the importance of the observation and modeling behaviors, emotional reactions, and attitudes. However, he argues that if people were to rely only on the impacts of their actions…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER99% of users find it useful
The Theory of Social Learning
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Theory of Social Learning"

The Theory of Social Learning Albert Bandura’s Theory of Social Learning puts emphasis on the importance of the observation and modeling behaviors, emotional reactions, and attitudes. He argued that if people were to rely only on the impacts of their actions to inform them on what to do, learning would become exceedingly a laborious and hazardous activity (Bakhurst, 2014). It is, however, fortunate that human behavior is learned through observation of models. From observing others, one clearly forms an idea of how new behaviors are carried out and later this coded information will serve as a guide for actions. The Theory of Social Learning, therefore, explains the human behavior as a continuous reciprocal interaction between behavioral, cognitive and environmental influences. Bandura argues that human beings are active information processors who integrate behaviors and their consequences. He further asserted that unless the cognitive process is at play, observational learning will not take place. Children are environmentally sensitive. They keenly observe environmental behaviors as well as those of people or models around them in an attempt to learn (Daniels, 2012). Social learning has the following as the underlying components: Attention that include modeled events such as distinctiveness, complexity, functional value, prevalence, and affective valence among others. It also includes Retention that comprise symbolic coding and rehearsal, cognitive organization and motor rehearsal. Motor Reproduction is the third component, and it includes physical capabilities, self-observation of reproduction and feedback accuracy. Lastly, there is the motivation that includes external, vicarious and self-reinforcement ('Editorial Board', 2015). In a society, children interact with various models such as parents and family members who play a great role in shaping up and influencing their behaviors. Characters on children’s TV, teachers at school and friends within their peer groups also play pivotal roles in children’s behaviors. These models’ behaviors provide a perfect script from which the children imitate behaviors since they pay much attention to these models and encode their behavior patterns. Children will always imitate behaviors of their models regardless of the gender or behavior appropriateness (Scaratti, 2014). Despite this, there exist processes that make a child more likely to reproduce a behavior that the society deems appropriate for its sex. In behavior imitation, a child is likely to attend to and imitate the models he perceives to be similar to himself first. Consequently, there are higher chances that the child will imitate the behavior modeled by people of the same sex. The models response to the behavior a child has imitated will have a greater impact. Unwanted behaviors will meet punishment as a response, especially streamlined in schools where teachers have a greater role in modeling children in the society. The educational policy requires decent behaviors from students (Bakhurst, 2014). Teachers, therefore, receive training that enable them be good role models for the pupils who normally view them as their best examples to imitate. Good behaviors will receive reinforcements. When a child imitates behavior that has rewarding consequences, he or she is likely to continue exhibiting the behavior hence reinforcement of the behavior pattern. Behavior reinforcement can be either internal or external and positive or negative. If a child gets behavior approval, parents, teachers or peers is an example of external reinforcement while the child will be feeling happy internally about the approval, which is an internal reinforcement. A child will behave in a way that he or she feels will earn approval from the models around him or her. Positive or negative reinforcements will have a minor impact if the external reinforcement offered is not in tandem with the child’s needs ('Editorial Board', 2015). Regardless of the type of reinforcement, it usually brings about change in a child’s behavior. The child will also monitor what happens to the other people when making a decision whether or not to copy their actions, an act known as vicarious reinforcement. This reinforcement normally relates to attachments to specific people that possess rewarding qualities. Children have many people with whom they can identify themselves. They may be models in their immediate environment such as parents, older siblings or could be fantasy people or characters in TV or other media. The motivation and drive to identify with a particular model is based on the quality that the child would love to possess. Identification that occurs with another person involves adopting observed behaviors, values, beliefs and attitudes of the person one is seeking identification (Akers, & Jensen, 2009). Identification in Social learning theory is equivalent to Oedipus complex since both involve internalizing and adopting another person’s behavior. The only difference is that in Oedipus complex, the child can only identify with a same-sex parent while in Social Learning Theory, the person (adult or child) potentially identifies with any person across the gender. Identification involves some adopted behaviors making it different with imitation that only involves copying a single behavior. Social learning theory combines both cognitive and behavioral frameworks; it encompasses memory, attention, and motivation. The theory has extensive application in understanding aggression, psychological disorders especially in the context of behavioral modification and training programs. References Akers, R. L., & Jensen, G. F. (2009). Social learning theory and the explanation of crime: A guide for the new century. New Brunswick: Transaction Pub. Bakhurst, D. (2014). Understanding Vygotsky. Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, doi:10.1016/j.lcsi.2014.06.001 Daniels, H. (2012). Institutional culture, social interaction and learning. Learning, Culture And Social Interaction, 1(1), 2-11. doi:10.1016/j.lcsi.2012.02.001 Editorial Board. (2015). Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 4, IFC. doi:10.1016/s2210-6561(15)00007-0 Scaratti, G. (2014). The social relevance and social impact of knowledge and knowing. Management Learning, 45(3), 360-362. doi:10.1177/1350507614536815 Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“The Theory of Social Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/sociology/1695661-research-essay
(The Theory of Social Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/sociology/1695661-research-essay.
“The Theory of Social Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1695661-research-essay.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Theory of Social Learning

Social Learning Theory

Before discussing the moral and ethical implications of this policy change, it is important to provide a theoretical background of social learning Theory.... social learning Theory is considered as one of the leading theories with widespread applications in different fields including criminology.... The social learning theory from the criminology perspective has largely been developed by Akers , Burgess as well as the work of Sutherland.... According to social learning theorists, people tend to learn the moral behaviors over the period of time therefore children specially see their parents as models for what is right and wrong....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Shot in the Heart: The Problem of Abuse, and Violence

SHOT IN THE HEART Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: Abstract Though written in a tone of its own kind which makes the story more of a riddle than a reality, the composition by Mikal Gilmore is one great piece that has so much to reveal about the connection between one's own experience at childhood and the person that he/she becomes as a grown up....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

Socialization theories

As far as all of us according to Darwin originate from monkeys, the tendency for imitation between us is very widely spread – The Theory of Social Learning will never lose its up-to-date character and will always be modern in our attempt to explain how and why people socialize in new environments.... hellip; the theory of cognitive development is based in the principle, that the social development of a person goes through a number of stages, and during each of them the person perceives the world according to the strict standards, developed by Piaget....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Psychology of Crime: Social Learning Theory

In the paper “Psychology of Crime: social learning Theory” the author discusses certain key principles and premises of the social learning Theory.... According to the social learning Theory, people do tend to learn by observing the behavior of other people.... hellip; The author says that the one essential feature of the social learning theory is that the learner's observation, perceptions, and expectations pertaining to the rewards and punishments associated with the observed behavior do have a profound influence on the behavior that people tend to exhibit....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

Alcoholism among the Aged Members of the Society

The problems that the aged face includes diseases such as cancer and depression that lack a cure.... These diseases mainly result from the heavy consumption of… Studies indicate that the behavior of alcohol consumption is relative meaning that it arises from the surrounding rather than from an individual....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Understanding of the material presented on social learning and general strain theories

The difference between the two that, general strain theory puts emphases on the negative relationships with others while The Theory of Social Learning focuses much on the cognitive information acquired through the learning process.... The social learning theory has some general similarities with the theory of general strain.... social learning also refers to the cognitive process that can take place within a social environment.... This cognitive process occurs in the direct Unit social learning and General strain theories social learning theory s that an environment modifiesthe behavior through the observational learning process....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

An understanding of different theoretical frameworks

Therefore, this paper will compare and contrast the two theories, give a detailed analysis on their origin In the 1920s, Ludwig von Bertalanffy, proposed the theory of systems theory.... For instance, the social learning theory posits that people learn from observing and the systems… eory affirms that real systems are free and open to interact with their immediate environment; hence, can acquire new features and properties (McLeod 2011; Aurelius 2004)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Theory of Knowledge

The essay 'theory of Knowledge' tells about models based on expectation and verifiability, the use of models in various fields of knowledge, the advantages and disadvantages of using models to produce knowledge of the world.... These theories are: (i) theory of Falsification by Popper, and (ii) Kant's Hypothetical Deductive Method.... An example of a model in human sciences is Jung's theory of Archetypes that are found in the Psychology field....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us