Analyzing Banduras Observational Learning Theory

Most humans learn by simply watching, and then imitating the action rather than trial and error or direct experiences of the consequences of our actions (this is not to say that watching and imitating is the only way of learning). This method of learning is called observational learning. The highly recognized psychologist with observational learning is Albert Bandura. Bandura’s theory states that observational learning

Krause, Duchesne, Bochner, and McMaugh (2015, p. 160) state that in behaviourism, learning is viewed as “a cause and effect mechanism”; in other words, repeated factors from the external environment cause the same response of individual over time and consequently turn them into a learnt behavior. A systematic and observable manner can assist a person to learn a behavior without taking into account their experiences, thinking or the way they perceive the world (Gray & MacBlain, 2012, p. 29). It is simply due to the contiguity, in which if two events or sensations frequently happen at the same time, the existence of one event or sensation would unintentionally remind of another one (Krause et al., 2015, p. 160).

Throughout this course, we have explored a vast amount of theories, however, Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) has been the one that intrigued me the most. Bandura’s SLT “strongly emphasized the importance of observational learning and cognitive variables in explaining human behavior (Powell, Honey, & Symbaluk 2017).” According to our readings Bandura agrees with the behaviorist learning theories of classical and operant conditioning, he proposes that the SLT is a result of both person and situation, which does not have the same effect from either component on their own (Powell, Honey, & Symbaluk 2017). One of his most well-known studies involves a bobo doll. In which Bandura demonstrates that when someone observes violent behavior it increases the chances of violence of the spectator, and

Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory describes the process through which people acquire new info, forms of behavior, or attitudes from others firsthand or vicariously. The likelihood of a behavior presenting itself will rely on the amount of reinforcement it receives and the value that the individual associates to it. While some behavior may be rewarded, others may produce unfavorable responses. An individual will learn from the consequences of these actions and when a similar situation arises, they will alter their behavior according to what was most successful in the past.

Observational learning is simply learning by observing the behavior of other people called models (Bandura 1997,1986,1989 2000,2006). Bandura sees observational learning as one of the most important mechanism through which humans behavior changes. Cady watched how “the plastics”acted and that is why she eventually became one. This type of learning is more cognitive than conditioning because people have to pay attention to how the person acted at a particular time and make mental pictures to use them later on.

“Bandura analyzed the nature of observational learning and found it to be governed by four related mechanisms: attentional processes, retention processes, production processes, and incentive and motivational processes” (Schultz & Schultz, 2013, p. 335). First, there are various changing forces that can effect attentional processes (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). According to Bandura, “observational learning or modeling will not occur unless the subject pays attention to the model” (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). For example, even though Antwone was not raised by his biological parents, he had several influences in his life.

Bandura (1977) uses a four-step approach when implementing learning consisting of four phases: Attentional , Retention, Reproduction, and Motivational. The attentional phase is when the learner observes the role model. The processing and memorization of the observations takes place in the retention phase. The learner performs the learned action or behavior in the reproduction phase. Lastly, the motivation phase focuses on the learner's motivation to perform the behavior depending on their perception of reward or punishment as a consequence. This is known as vicarious reinforcement (Bastable , 2008).

Observational occurs through observing the behavior of others in your environment. While in battle Jim observes the terror and fear of others when a bomb is fired in his squad. The loud noise produced by the bomb being fired triggers a sense of fear among his unit and reminds them that a battle is in the process. When Jim looks beside himself at the faces of his members in his unit he is learning by observing his surroundings adding to his own sense of anguish. By learning from others in his unit or his environment Jim now correlates loud noises with fear due to his remembrance of the expression on other people’s faces, and how they are acting once a bomb is fired. Observational learning relies on what we perceive and who we are observing. An individual is more likely to observe and take into account the behavior of someone he or she respects and trusts rather than a random person. In Jim’s case members of your units are like your brothers, which further propel Jims fear by seeing it in the people’s faces that he respects and trusts. A common factor which increases the likelihood of imitation is if the situation in ambiguous and unfamiliar. When Jim first started out while in battle he looked at the faces of his comrades as he was perplexed and confused for the first time in a pressuring situation. He noticed that they were also very perplexed which perpetuated the same

Retention: Observers must not only recognize the observed behavior but also remember it at some later time. This process depends on the observer 's ability to code or structure the information in an easily remembered form or to mentally or physically rehearse the model 's actions.

     Observational learning occurs when a person or an animal uses observation of another’s actions and their consequences to guide their own future actions. The person being observed is referred to as a model. For this reason observational learning is also referred to as modeling. Observational learning involves four stages, attention, retention, reproduction and motivation-reinforcement. Attention is when the learner observers the actions of the model (The higher the status of the model the more attention the learner will pay and the closer their imitations will be to the models actions). Retention is when the learner retains in their memory what they have just observed. Reproduction is when the learner will reproduce or imitate the actions of the model that they have just observed. Reproduction is when the learner reproduces or imitates what they have just observed. Motivation-reinforcement can come in various ways. External reinforcement, through praise for doing something well, self-reinforcement, through the

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.

So he was born on December 4, 1925 , and graduated with a degree in psychology from British Columbia in the year of 1949. He then received his PhD in clinical psychology from the Iowa University. In 1974, he served as a president of the American Psychological Association, and have also received the award of lifetime achievement in the field of psychology, and that happened in 2004.

Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory is a theory that includes development theories in order to understand how children learn. Bandura’s theory is based on how people can learn by observing others, how internal mental states influence people, and how learning something does not change one’s behavior every time. Bandura was able to find out that people learn by three observational models. The first model is the live model which includes observing how someone demonstrates the behavior, the verbal instruction model which learning occurs through auditory directions, and the symbolic model where modeling occurs through media sources such as internet, movies, and books.

Albert Bandura is considered the developer of social learning theory, which is also known as social cognitive theory (Corey, 2013; Feist et al., 2013; Thoma et al., 2015). Badura’s theory, while based upon the principles of behaviorism, departs from the traditional behavioral model and leaves room for the exploration of unobservable mental states and their influence on behavior (Corey, 2013; Thoma et al., 2015). Social Cognitive theory bases its theory of learning on two types of learning processes: observational learning and enactive learning (Feist et al., 2013). In contrast to Skinner’s belief that reinforcement is required for learning, Bandura believes that learning is possible simply by observing the behavior of others; while reinforcement facilitates learning, it is not a necessary requirement (Feist et al., 2013). Enactive learning is learning through direct experience, and is similar to the concept of operant conditioning; people determine appropriate behaviors by evaluating their behavior and the potential consequences thereof (Feist et al., 2013). Where behavioral theory adopts the ABC approach to behavior, social cognitive theory uses a BPE approach known as Triadic Reciprocal Causation. In TRC, BPE stands for behavior, person variables, and environment (Feist et al., 2013). Within the TRC, the term person encompasses many variables including memory, judging, anticipation, gender, social position, physical attributes, and planning; the belief is that

Based on Bandura’s social learning theory, human development is continuous. This concludes that people are constantly changing, developing, gathering skills, watching and performing. Using Ben as an example, he gradually learned certain things in the ESL classroom. As I previously mentioned, writing was very difficult for him upon arriving to the U.S. Ben first learned how to hold a pencil properly, overserving from others and pictures that we provided to him, then he learned how to write his ABC’s, next he learned how to spell his name, and lastly proceeded to form words and write out short paragraphs independently. This demonstrates a smooth process, which Ben had to perform before attempting to write short papers in class.