Social And Cognitive Development : Physical, Social, And Cognitive Development

Albert Bandura is one of the pioneers in the study of human development. His biographical background lays a good foundation for the basis of his work as a psychologist. His social cognitive theory will be examined in detail to highlight the effect that environment has on behavior. There are four basic features to the theory introduced by Bandura that will be discussed; (1) observational learning, (2) self-regulation, (3) self-efficacy, and (4) reciprocal determinism. All four features combined will prove to offer a keen insight into the environmental aspect of our behavior.

Adolescence has been charactised as a time of storm and stress, but many adolescents make the transition from child to adult with relative ease and with little trauma either to themselves or to their parents. It is not surprising that, while their bodies are so rapidly changing, youngsters become quite preoccupied with them and wonder what they will become.

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

Two prominent researchers, B.F. Skinner and Albert Bandura, have developed theories which provide differing perspectives and explanations regarding the learning behavior of individuals. The purpose of this writing is to explore the theoretical perspectives of Operant Conditioning Theory developed by B.F. Skinner and Social Learning Theory developed by Albert Bandura. An overview of both theories is presented, followed by a discussion of their similarities and differences.

For many of years, psychologists and theorists have studied and tracked what influences a human 's growth, learning, and overall development. Although there are many different views of why people may develop the way they do, there is no true "correct" answer. According to learning theorist, B.F Skinner, he believed that all human behavior was determined by environmental influences. This is what as known as behaviorism. "Skinner referred to his own philosophy as 'radical behaviorism ' and suggested that the concept of free will was simply an illusion. All human action, he instead believed, was the direct result of conditioning" (Cherry, 2005). Throughout this paper my focus will be on learning theories- specifically the concept of behaviorism.

At three months of age, infants will spend their time watching what is going on around them. They will show their first real smile, perhaps accompanying it with some gurgling in an attempt to start interacting with others, especially parents/guardians.

There are factors that can influence cognitive, social and physical development. Everyone develops at a different pace. Tyra Beckett development was different and not easy. But she overcame her challenges and became the person she is today. Tyra Beckett is a native New Yorker, who moved to Virginia. She has faced many obstacles in her life such as not speaking until three, having a speech impediment, losing her father, being bullied and stressing in college. She plans on finding a career in Human service, helping the community and finding love. At a young age she was taught about spirituality. She attended bible studies, events and church every Sunday and holiday. Her spirituality has been a positive influence on her and her decisions. Spirituality and her development will continue to affect her decision into the rest of her life. Everything Tyra is today is because of her spirituality and belief in God.

Bandura believed that not only is children’s behaviour shaped by its consequences, but also that children learn by watching the behaviour of people around them. In contrast to Behaviourism, Bandura’s social learning theory emphasized the importance of children imitating the behaviour, emotions and attitudes of those they saw around them .

This group of students is quite diverse. This group of fourth grade students also exhibit diversity from their home life, culture, and socioeconomic areas. This school has over an eighty percent ration of students on free or reduced lunches. Religious diversity also plays a part in this group of children. These children break up into social groups based along these lines of diversity.

This paper is will focus on the influences of physical and cognitive development in adolescence from 12 to 18 years of age. This part of the developmental stage has many factors that affect the physical development as well as the cognitive development in adolescence. In addition to influences of physical and cognitive development this paper will also focus on the hereditary and environmental influences that make up this stage in life.

Effective social learning theories do not just explain behaviors, they build bridges. Few experts believe that social or even biologically determined actions arise in isolation: they come about as a result of a variety of factors that may be located inside or outside of the subject, but eventually they come together in combination. It is this recognition that has formed the basis (at least in retrospect) for the long-lasting impact of Bandura's social learning or now social cognitive theory of behavior. It is a theory that can be its own agent for building a better self (Bandura, Agentic, n.d.).

This theory is similar to other learning theories in that it encompasses personality and other aspects of social development. Unlike the social exchange theory, which focuses on reinforcement of negative and positive behavior the social learning theory, focuses on observation and initiation. Reinforcement can increase the likelihood for imitation but is not necessary for learning (Siegler, Deloache, & Eisenberg, 2014). Bandura (1989) states that the interchange of positive behaviors between relationships will exhibit trust and growth within the relationship where as the opposite will occur with negative behaviors. Social learning can occur either deliberately or inadverntatly by observing behaviors and the consequences associated with them. “But most aspects of the environment do not operate as an influence until they are activated by appropriate behavior… The aspect of the potential environment that becomes the actual environment for given individuals thus depends on how they behave” (Bandura, 1989). The social learning theory states that people are both the products and producers of their environment. Bandura also statesm “Social learning is a continuous process in which acquired standards are elaborated and modified, and new ones are adopted. Children repeatedly observe and learn the standards and

Children are constantly learning new information and new behaviours, some of which are desired behaviours and some are not. Parents are constantly disciplining their children, but tend to focus more on operant conditioning and punish their children as opposed to using classical conditioning or observational learning. The different types of learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning, are all different techniques that can be used to shape a child’s behaviour.

The behavioral perspective of development suggests that human development can be understood by observing how people behave in response to environmental stimuli. This theory denies distinct universal stages in development and insists that environmental factors influence how a person will change and adapt in their society. From this perspective, people will have positive developmental experiences if they grow up in a nurturing environment. B.F. Skinner introduced the operant conditioning theory which asserts that children develop in response to reinforcement or punishment (Feldman & Landry, 2014, p. 15). Reinforcement increases the likelihood of someone

Researchers have identified the importance of interplay in the healthy development of cognition and social development (Biro, Alink, Huffmeijer, Bakermans‐Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2015). Engaging in daily interaction will allow infants to mimic and learn socialization, this will influence the way that toddlers and young children engage with peers and caregivers throughout their childhood (Biro, Alink, Huffmeijer, Bakermans‐Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2015). Learning to connect with others will encourage individuality, cognition and social skills that can only be learned by experience. Researchers conclude that caregivers and parental figures prove invaluable to developing a healthy attachment with effective social-emotional experiences (Biro, Alink, Huffmeijer, Bakermans‐Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2015). Middle childhood, cognitive development throughout childhood is a valuable process that will allow children to flourish both independently and within peer groups (Burger, K., 2009). Scrutinizing diverse social backgrounds and educational availability, researchers have identified long and short term effects in the cognitive development of children (Burger, K., 2009). Data supports that the higher quality of both education and social activity is beneficial to the overall development of an individual, it is important to acknowledge that the quality need not equate to fiscal quality, as it is the time and energy that is given to a child