Introduction :
Learning is a social process and we learn through interaction with others in our day to day life. Prior to 1960, theories of learning were heavily influenced by behaviorist and cognitivist theories. But Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another - via observation, imitation, and modeling.
The social learning theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it includes attention, memory, and motivation. As a result it is sometimes called social cognitive learning.
While rooted in many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning. His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people known as observational learning (or modeling).
The social learning theory emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes and emotional reactions of others. Thus it focuses on learning by observation and modeling.
Social learning theory talks about how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behavior. It focuses on the learning that occurs within a social context. It considers that people learn from one another. In Social Context Behavioral factors + Cognitive factors ----------------------> Social Learning
Meaning :
According to Albert Bandura (1977), “In social learning theory, behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning.”
Social learning is the process in which individuals observe the behavior of others and its consequences, and modify their own behavior accordingly.
Bandura’s theory of social learning : Basic Social Learning Concepts
There are three core concepts at the heart of social learning theory. 1) Learning through