social learning theory

• developed by Albert bandura in 1960s, social cognitive theory is a theory that suggests that people learn through observing and imitating others
• The basic ideas-

  • we learn by observing models and imitating their behaviour this is much quicker than the direct reinforcement needed in conditioning
  • Features of the model-we are more likely to imitate a model if we identify with them (similar) or we hold them in high regard
  • Vicarious reinforcement- in contrast to behaviourism, we can also learn by observing a model being reinforced for their behaviour
• THE MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES

  1. attention- we must pay attention to the model's behaviour
  2. retention-the behaviour must be remembered by the learner
  3. reproduction-we must be capable of performing the behaviour
  4. motivation-we must perceive there to be a need or reward to reproduce the behaviour
• social learning theory


  A psychological theory proposing that people learn new behaviours through observation, imitation and modelling of others in a social context