Social Learning Theory

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.

In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting the behaviourist approach and the social-learning approach. The two theories by Burrhus Frederic Skinner and Albert Bandura are similar as they are interlinked as learning theories but there are differences in each theorist’s overall view of the concepts within personality development (Comer, et al, 2013).

Social learning theory, developed by Bandura, discusses how people learn from one another through observation, modeling, and imitation bridging an individual’s attention, memory and motivation. Social learning theory identifies the importance of cognition, observable behavior, individual self-efficacy, and the extent of how the events surrounding an individual affect them; their locus of control. Social learning theory also looks at individual problem behavior being influenced by positive or negative reinforcement (Ashford & LeCroy, 2012).

There have been three suggested theories to explain our acquired patterns of behaviors or learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning. (Robbins and Judge, 2009, p. 55) This discussion will look at operant conditioning its extension social learning, and how it pertains to a covenantal framework. Using a personal example I am able to show how the integration of learning and covenantal thinking leads to the success of an organization.

Theory number one based off my previous journal entry is social learning theory. The theory that we can all learn from each other through observations, replications , and by sculpting their behaviors, manners and emotion relations of those around them. That theory is relevant and applied because of my current career field, it is important to be open and capable of learning from everyone around you, that’s a very important attribute. I could tell a person multiple times how to do something and they won’t understand or comprehend the directions or instructions that I give them. A lot, of times I have to come up with examples, memorandums, formats and templates to aid them in learning; that doesn’t always work. However, for those that lack understanding I can take some extra time and show them exactly how it needs to be done. I’ll explain

Undergraduates and youths in general have different opinions on the outcome of drinking alcohol alone and mixing it with energy drinks. Their perceptions differ because of the variant experiences the individuals have had for long. There are different articles used in this report that have significant information to the opinions of undergraduates concerning the outcome of drinking alcohol alone and mixing it with energy drinks. This report includes different journal articles with different and relevant information on the mixed consumption of alcohol and energy drinks.

Furthermore, criminal behavior is often studied from the point of view of the social learning theory. Thus, Jeffrey (1995) argues that criminal behavior is learned from the social environment. Akers (1990), on the other hand, views criminality from the point of rational choice theory, arguing that social learning is not the only indicator of criminal behavior and that a choice made by a person who is being influenced by their immediate environment can deter from engaging in criminal activity. Building on Akers research, Bradshaw (2011) points out that social learning theory has its limits when it comes to criminology is not applicable many of the types of crime, specifically, corporate and state crime.

Albert Bandura, a 20th century American pszchologist, proposed a very important and probably the most influential theory of development and learning. He believed that: “Most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling: from observing others, one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later occasions

Social learning theory as defined by Akers is: the theory that when exposed to favourable definitions of crime, peers who commit crime, anticipate that (or in the past have had) the benefits of committing the crime outweigh the punishment, and a situation where committing a crime is justifiable or advantageous, are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour and deviate from societal norms (2009).

Akers and Sellers (2013) has stated that social learning theory is an expanded theory of differential association processes and improves it with differential reinforcement and other principles of the behavior theory. They added classical conditioning (the sharpening of involuntary reflex behavior); discriminative stimuli (internal stimuli that lead to signals for behavior); schedules of reinforcement (rewards and punishment ratio following behavioral feedback); and other theories of behavior (Akers & Sellers, 2013).

Social learning theory has a major part when it come to a person and being influence by dealing with memory and learning. Bandura has described social learning theory as, “most human behavior is learned through modeling or imitating certain behavior, particularly when the behavior is perceived to be successful, and this type of learning is known as observational learning. Social learning theory is usually observed, and the person is curious and want to try and then the person experience, “observational learning occurs as a form of either acquiring new responses or modifying old responses” (Seungbum & Keunsu,2012). When deviant behavior or violence is display it usually put on social learning theory because they feel that person learn that certain

Social learning theory(SLT) can be seen as a bridge between the traditional behaviourist approach and the cognitive approach and not as separate from the behaviourist approach. Social Learning was developed in the 1960s to explain human behaviour in a more complex way than just the stimulus response of behaviourists. In terms of child development SLT is good for explaining specific imitation behaviour such as little girls taking care of babies or cooking like their mothers. It also explains why the trial and error learning as the behaviourists use could be seen as difficult to survive, without the imitation and observation of others children would make many fatal mistakes during their formative years. It has its limitations as an approach,

I agree that the Social Learning Theory explains the most differences in genders. The theory comes from observations. A child does not know what clothing or accessories to use without observing an adult of their gender. One cannot hide what the eye sees. Every scream or laugh was seen from a child’s perspective. The right and wrong are taught from a family member or peer. For example, the Bobo experiment was aggressive actions carried from the adult to the child. The child only terrorized the doll because the adult was. As a child, you are taught to repeat and carry yourself like a well-mannered human of society. For future reference, a child is always watching you.

With adolescence comes a big influx of hormones, non-fully developed minds and taking the experiences learned from years before and putting them to the test of the world. However, adolescence, which according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) can also be the years where a significant number of crimes are committed, peaking at the ages from 15-19. While some studies agree that these young offenders usually, nearly 60-70% (NIJ), cease in their offenses as they get older and about only 52-57% continue on until the age of 25, their relations with the police, the environment they were raised in and their experiences could prolong their run ins with the government and create a bad viewing of the police for the rest of their lives. By using the social learning and behavioral theory, which believes development of these young and ever-expanding minds are determined by not only what they experience and see growing up, but how they are taught, their environment and conditioning, the Criminal Justice system in the United States can stop this rise of offenses in adolescence into early adulthood.

In this essay I will talk how behaviourism and social learning theory contribute to our understanding of learning, the strengths and weaknesses of the theories of Psychologists B F Skinner and Stanley Milgram and also critically discuss the limitations of their theories. Then finally weigh up how Skinner has impacted the understanding of behaviour.