Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory
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Social Learning Theory
The learning process remains remarkably complex because various factors determine it. Since learning is complex, numerous psychological theories have been advanced to explain how and why individuals learn. One of the theories is Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, which indicates that observation and modeling are critical in the learning process. This essay will reflect on the social learning theory and its contribution to social psychology.
Bandura’s theory moves beyond the behavioral theories that indicate that all behaviors are learned due to conditioning. Initially, much emphasis on learning was on direct experience, association, and reinforcement. Bandura shifted from this view since he believed that direct reinforcement was not responsible for all types of learning (Nabavi, 2012). The social learning theory added a new dimension; that individuals could acquire new information and behaviors by observing others. The theory indicates four phases that are critical in learning a new behavior. Firstly, attention is crucial because it determines the degree to which individuals notice a behavior. Before individuals imitate a behavior, it needs to grab their attention. Secondly, retention influences how well someone can remember the behavior. It is impossible to recall a behavior if it cannot be remembered (Nabavi, 2012). Therefore, people need to retain the behavior to model it later. Thirdly, reproduction indicates the ability to undertake the behavior. Reproduction influences individuals’ decisions on whether or not to try performing the behavior, depending on their physical skills. Lastly, motivation plays a significant role in emulating behavior. It entails learning via observing the consequences of the behavior on other individuals. When greater rewards than punishments are evident, then the observer will imitate the behavior.
Bandura’s socia...