Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura)
In 1977, Albert Bandura publish a paper titled "Social Learning Theory," which became a cornerstone of psychology. This paper proposed a new understanding of how people learn and behave, suggesting that learning occurs not only through direct experience but also through observing and imitating the behaviour of others.
Bandura's social learning theory marked a departure from the dominant behaviourist paradigm. Behaviourism posited that all behaviour resulted from stimulus-response associations, with learning occurring through reinforcement and punishment. Bandura, however, argued that this perspective was too limited to explain human behaviour fully.
Instead, Bandura proposed that humans are heavily influenced by the behaviour of others around them and learn through a process called observational learning. He suggested that the environment in which people learn and the reinforcement or punishment they receive for their behavior also play a crucial role in shaping their actions.
One of the key concepts of social learning theory is the idea of modelling. Bandura suggested that people are more likely to imitate the behaviour of others if they see that behaviour being reinforced or rewarded. For example, a child who observes their older sibling receiving praise for getting good grades may indeed be more motivated to study and do well in school themselves.
Bandura also introduced the concept of self-efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform a specific task or behaviour. He suggested that self-efficacy can be increased through various factors, including successful performance of the behaviour in question, observing others successfully perform the behaviour, and receiving positive feedback and encouragement.
Social learning theory has had a significant impact on our understanding of human behaviour and has been applied in various settings, including education, business, and healthcare. It has been used to develop effective behaviour change interventions by targeting the environmental and social factors that influence behaviour.
Simply Put, Bandura's social learning theory represented a major shift in psychology, emphasizing the importance of social factors in shaping behaviour and opening up new avenues for research and intervention.
Sources:
Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York: W.H. Freeman.