Christian Small

Professor Mark Hawkes

EPSY 302
April 6th, 2017

Social Cognitive Learning Theory

Growing up my parents made me stay on my side of the highway and be home by ten. I

was always told to obey the law and never stray away. I didnt realize how important these rules

were until I was older. I saw the negative effects other teens/students would face because of

actions that they decided to take. My peers received minors for drinking, got sent to the

principals office for swearing, or would be tardy for class because they were out to late. I have

been guilty of some if these but never understood that it was for my own good I have been tardy

and swore before and didnt think it was a big deal at the time. On the other hand, my parents

showed positive actions that I still stick to today. My parents would help the elderly and pray

before supper. Therefore, I learned to lean on my faith in times of struggle and in times of grace.

Another example is they always encouraged me to stay active and involved in my own life and in

others as well as treated others as I wish to be treated. Because of this, I immersed myself in

sports and good deeds throughout my life. I saw the way the community members reacted to a

win from the basketball team, as well as supporting community cleanup day, this made me want

to be involved as much variety as I could. By observing others, I learned why my parents were so

tough on me and why they pushed me to do certain things, this is a process known as the social

learning theory. To completely understand this theory and why it works, one must go to the roots

of the experiment
Albert Bandura once said, Most of the images of reality on which we base our actions

are really based on vicarious experience (Albert Bandura). This means we do what we see
others do. Bandura was born in 1925 in Alberta, Canada. Bandura wasnt set on being a

psychologist. He took a psychology class just to fill his schedule. He wanted to find the source of

human motivation. Bandura worked with a man by the name of Richard Walters and studied

aggressive behavior. He began his Bobo Doll Experiment and started developing the social

learning theory. (Albert Bandura).

In 1961 and 1963 Bandura used the Bobo Doll Experiment to study if social behaviors

could be acquired by children watching adults imitate a certain behavior, in this case, aggressive

(McLeod). Before the experiment was conducted, the researchers tested the aggression of the

children. This is a smart move because some children could be more aggressive than others.

Thirty-six young boys and girls from the Stanford University Nursery were tested. Five-point

grading scales were used to test the children Each child was put in the room with the Bobo doll,

which was weighted down so if it was knocked down it would come back up. (Nolen). During

the first part of the experiment, the children observed one of two completely different behaviors

toward the Bobo dolls. One group of children were very aggressive, and the others were almost

non-existent. The children observed this for ten minutes (Nolen). Next, the second phase was the

act of the children on the Bobo dolls. While in the room the children had a choice between

aggressive toys (e.g. Bobo dolls, mallets, and guns), and non-aggressive toys (e.g. paper,

crayons) (Nolen).
There were several results to consider. The study showed that ninety percent of the

children exhibited the same aggressive behavior as their models(Nolen). Even after eight months,

forty percent of these same children still showed the same aggressive behavior. Therefore

Bandura established that people learn through three key factors; modeling, self-efficacy, and self-

regulation (Ormond 18).

Models are all around us, and I dont mean catwalks When one person demonstrates

behavior and another person imitates it; modeling is occurred (Ormond 63). A role model is
someone that an individual can look up to. When I begin to teach, I believe I will be and will

strive to be a role model. Teachers guide students and help them be successful. Being a positive

role model is essential for a comfortable classroom. This can be attained by the models of

behavior. Attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation are achieved when modeling

is being promoted and accessed. (Ormond 64). All three parts were met within the Bobo doll

experiment. Students watched the models exhibit a certain behavior, they recalled what they did,

and they imitated the behavior aggressively. In the classroom, these models of behavior are

crucial for learning. The information I teach them will first be brought to their attention By

explaining the desired topic. After that I will ask them question about the certain topic so they

retain the information, a good way would be to use acronyms. The next step is reached by testing

and allowing the students to prove they know the information. The only they will prove what

they know is by being motivated to do so.

Vicarious learning is learning through watching, retaining and replicating a behavior

observed (Albert Bandura). Vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment are two types of

vicarious learning. Reinforcement is when a behavior is copied to receive a desired response.

Students are often praised for raising their hand and when they are it fuels them and teaches them

to raise their hand to get the teachers attention. Punishment is when someone avoids a behavior

because of the negative consequences they observe (Bandura). If a student is given detention for

yelling at the teacher, others will see that and the students will not repeat the behavior.
The next points that were established by Bandura are self-efficacy and self-regulation.

Self-efficacy is defined as the confidence in ones ability to execute a behavior with success

(Albert Bandura). I am confident in everything I do. This helps me perform better and be

consistently successful. In a classroom, the students who are confident will perform better and

those who are not will perform worse. I will need to help build confidence. Bandura stated, To
succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy. (Albert Bandura). Self-regulation comes with

self-efficacy. Self-regulation was huge for me in high school because I know my protentional and

set goals for myself. As a future teacher, I can set small goals for all of my students to achieve.
The results of the experiment provide guidelines to teachers and provide limits on

how to teach. In high school, I along with my peers, could use the computer to search what I

wanted. The teachers asked if we knew what a term was, so I googled it and it was inappropriate

for younger eyes. In my classroom, I will be careful with my material and make sure there are no

inappropriate aspects of the lesson. Banduras study is also useful in the classroom though self-

efficacy and self-regulation. Goal-setting is key to success and I will use this skill in my

classroom.
Albert Bandura provided closure between constructivists and behaviorists by providing a

theory that implements most ideas. The Bobo doll experiment proved that we learn by watching

others. There are multiple classroom examples centered around the social learning theory.

Reinforces can be used in classrooms to promote desired behavior. The social learning theory

provides three aspects of learning. Learning has many aspects and these three define true

fundamental learning.

Works Cited
"Albert Bandura." Biography. Good Therapy, 7 July 2015. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.
goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/albert-bandura.html>.
"Bandura and Observational Learning - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Web. 06 Apr.

2016. < https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-

textbook/learning-7/cognitive-approaches-to-learning-48/bandura-and-observational-

learning-203-12738>.
Hawkes, Mark. Social Learning Theory. PowerPoints.
McLeod, Saul. "Bobo Doll Experiment." Bobo Doll Experiment. Simply Psychology, 2014. Web.

29 Mar. 2016. <http://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html>.

Nolen, Jeannette L. Bobo Doll Experiment Psychology. Bobo Doll Experiment Simply

Psychology. N.p., 2014. Web. 3 April 2016. <http://www.britannica.com/event/Bobo-

doll-experiment>.
Ormond, Jeanne Ellis. Essentials of Educational Psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill,

2009. Print.