Albert Bandura’s

Social Learning Theory

Prepared by: Imelda, Joey (G2.5)
 Key concept
• The theory states that people learn behaviour, attitudes
from one another through observation, imitation and
modeling.
• Often been called a bridge between behaviorist and
cognitive learning theories because it encompasses
attention, memory and motivation.
• It focuses on how mental (cognitive) factors are involved
in learning.
• Social learning theory explains human behaviour
corresponding with interaction between cognitive,
behavioural, and environmental influences.
 Key concept
• Bandura (1977) believes that humans are
active information processors and think about
the relationship between their behavior and
its consequences.
• Observational learning could not occur unless
cognitive processes were at work.
• Cognitive process is to determine whether a
new response is acquired.
 Key concept
• Therefore, individuals do not automatically
observe the behaviour of a model and imitate
it.
• There is some thought prior to imitation, and
this consideration is called mediational
processes.
• This occurs between observing the behavior
(stimulus) and imitating it or not (response)
4 phases of observational learning
1. Attention phase
– For behaviors to be successfully learned, the individual
must pay sufficient attention to a model.
– Ex. In the classroom, the teacher gains the students’
attention by presenting clear and interesting cues.
2. Retention phase
– Storing this information so that it may be used at a later
date is crucial to the observational learning process.
– Once teachers have students’ attention, it is time to model
the behavior they want students to imitate and give
students chance to practise.
– Eg. Teacher shows letter A to students.
3. Reproduction phase
- Reproduce the observed behavior. Practice of this
behavior assists with the improvement of skills.
- Students try to match their behavior to the model’s.
- Eg. Students can reproduce the letter after practicing
several times.
- We are limited by our physical ability and for that
reason, even if we wish to reproduce the behavior.
- Ex. 90-year-old-lady watching some dancing on ice.
4. Motivation & Reinforcement phase
– The individual must be motivated to repeat the
learned behavior.
– Reinforcement and punishment acts to either
encourage or deter the individual from having the
motivation to repeat the modeled behavior.
– Ex. Teacher gives praise when the students have
learned that this is what the teacher likes.
 Three type of Reinforcement
1. Direct Reinforcement
– Occurs when individual watches a model
perform, imitates that behavior and reinforced or
punished by some individual
 2. Vicarious Reinforcement
• The observer anticipates receiving a reward
for behaving in a given way because someone
else has been so rewarded
 3. Self- Reinforcement
• The Individual strives to meet personal
standards and does not depend on or care
about the reaction of others
 Bobo Doll Experiment
• Albert Bandura believes aggression
must explain in three aspects:
1. How aggressive patterns of behavior
are developed
2. What provokes people to behave
aggressively.
3. What determines whether they are
going to continue to resort an
aggressive behavior pattern on future
occasions.
• Children exposed to the violent model tended
to imitate the exact behaviour they had
observed
• Bandura had predicted that children in the
non-aggressively group would behave less
aggressively than those in the aggressive
group
• Boys would behave more aggressively than
girls.
• Boys who observed an adult male behaving
violently were more influenced than those
who had observed a female model behaviour
aggressively
• Interestingly, the experiments found in the
same-sex aggressive groups, boys were more
likely to imitate physical acts of violence while
girls were more likely to imitate verbal
aggression
Implications of theory in teaching and
learning
• Students often learn a great deal by observing
other people
• Describing the consequences of behaviors can
effectively increase appropriate behaviors and
decrease inappropriate ones
• Modeling provides an alternative to shaping for
teaching new behaviors
• Teachers and parents must model appropriate
behaviors and take care that they do not model
inappropriate ones
 Cont.
• Teacher’s presentation should be very skillful and
interesting. (demonstration)
• Teacher’s demonstration should be clear so that
student can imitate the procedure easily and
accurately.
• Role Play, Simulation
Thank You..