Social Cognitive Learning By Albert Bandura

Albert Bandura• Born on December 4, 1925 in Alberta,

Canada• He attended the University of British in

Columbia, in Vancouver , for his Bachelor Degree in Psychology and his Ph. D. in 1952 from the University of Iowa.

• In 1953, he started teaching at Stanford University. While there, he collaborated with his first graduate student, Richard Walters, resulting in their first book, Adolescent Aggression, in 1959.

• Bandura was president of the APA in 1973, and received the APA’s Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions in 1980. He continues to work at Stanford to this day.

Bandura’s theory

Observational Learning:The child learns better through a model rather than direct reinforcement

Bandura’s theory

Three basic models of observational learning:

1. Live model – the actual person demonstrating a behaviour

2. Verbal instructional model – descriptions and explanations of a behaviour

3. Symbolic model– real or fictional characters displaying behaviours in books, films, tv programs or online media 

Bandura’s theory

Mental states are important in learning:

• Social cognitive theory – not only external forces contribute to learning and behaviour but also intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward

Bandura’s theory

Modelling process:1.Attention - one needs to pay attention to what they are trying to learn

2.Retention– this is the storage of information from what the child has seen

3.Reproduction – performing of the behaviour one has observed

4.Motivation – the child has to be motivated to imitate the behaviour that was made; Reinforcement and punishment plays a big part in motivation

Bandura’s theory

• If a student sees another student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, he/she might start to show up a few minutes early each day.

• A student who changes how he dresses to fit in with a certain crowd has a good chance of being accepted and thus reinforced by that crowd

• Advertisements are prime examples of Social Learning Theory. We watch them, and then copy them. Commercials suggest that drinking a certain beverage or using a particular hair shampoo will make us popular and win the admiration of attractive people.