Observational Social Theory
Observational and social theory According to Lefrancois, Social cognitive theory is a label for Bandura’s theory, which explains social learning through imitation using the principles of operant conditioning while recognizing the importance of cognitive activities such as imagining, symbolizing and anticipating (Lefrancois, p.386). Bandura’s theory was based on Skinners operant conditioning. If you recall Skinner believed in “free will” Therefore, Skinner believed that we have a mind, but due to the limitations on how to study our ”mind” he studied behavior because it could be seen by observation. Skinner was known for operant conditioning that was based on Thorndike’s “Law of effect”. Skinner and Thorndike believed that if a behavior
is good and followed by something good it would be repeated. If a behavior is bad and followed by unpleasant consequences (discipline) it would not be repeated. This is where Skinner added reinforcement. This is where a positive reinforcement for something good and a negative reinforcement for something termed bad. With this in mind, we come back to Bandura’s theory and observational learning. The cognitive process plays a part in learning (acquisition). Banduras observational learning theory and social learning theory come into play when discussing Banduras experiment with “Bobo” the doll. A recap of “Bobo” the doll was an experiment that Bandura conducted to see if children would imitate behavior that was observed. Several children were chosen to view different interaction with the doll. Some were pleasant with the doll, another group was aggressive. The children that observed the aggressive behavior showed signs of aggression with “Bobo”, therefore the observation of aggression was imitated. When the children became aggressive with the doll there was no one to correct this observed behavior, so, the child’s perception was that the behavior was socially acceptable. This type of aggressive behavior falls into social learning which is used in criminology to study deviant behavior. These children are observing others hitting this doll, and the children imitate this behavior and there are no consequences. The learning theory and the behaviorism share attributes such as attention memory and motivation.
Learning is a cognitive process, and people learn by observing a model. The models in Banduras study are closely related to the social cognitive theory link into behaviorism.
is good and followed by something good it would be repeated. If a behavior is bad and followed by unpleasant consequences (discipline) it would not be repeated. This is where Skinner added reinforcement. This is where a positive reinforcement for something good and a negative reinforcement for something termed bad. With this in mind, we come back to Bandura’s theory and observational learning. The cognitive process plays a part in learning (acquisition). Banduras observational learning theory and social learning theory come into play when discussing Banduras experiment with “Bobo” the doll. A recap of “Bobo” the doll was an experiment that Bandura conducted to see if children would imitate behavior that was observed. Several children were chosen to view different interaction with the doll. Some were pleasant with the doll, another group was aggressive. The children that observed the aggressive behavior showed signs of aggression with “Bobo”, therefore the observation of aggression was imitated. When the children became aggressive with the doll there was no one to correct this observed behavior, so, the child’s perception was that the behavior was socially acceptable. This type of aggressive behavior falls into social learning which is used in criminology to study deviant behavior. These children are observing others hitting this doll, and the children imitate this behavior and there are no consequences. The learning theory and the behaviorism share attributes such as attention memory and motivation.
Learning is a cognitive process, and people learn by observing a model. The models in Banduras study are closely related to the social cognitive theory link into behaviorism.