Social Learning Theory - Assignment Example

?Social Learning Theory Albert Bandura is famous for his work known as social learning theory. He is one of the known psychologists in various fieldssuch as personality psychology, social cognitive theory, and therapy. It would be dangerous to only learn from experience. Hence, he asserted that learning can happen by observing others. His theory is also known as observational learning or modelling. The basic tenets of his theory encompass three concepts. Firstly, observation is very crucial in learning. This was evident in his popular Bobo doll experiment wherein children manifestly imitated the behaviour of other people (Sims, & Manz, 1982). For instance, when the behaviour model displayed violent words and actions towards the Bobo doll, the children did the same. The method involved 36 boys and 36 girls. The children were from 3 to 6 years of age. The first group of participants (24 boys and girls) were made to observe a model who exhibited aggressive actions and words towards the Bobo doll. Meanwhile, the second group of the same population were made to watch a non-aggressive model. Finally, the last group was treated as the control batch and had no exposure to any models. The conclusions indicated that the children who were made to observe an aggressive model tended to exhibit more similarly violent behaviors. Interestingly, gender had a significant influence. If the role model was male, the girls showed more physical aggression. On the other hand, if the role model was female, the girls displayed more verbal hostility. However, there is no significant difference between girls’ and boys’ levels of verbal aggression. In addition, boys emulated role models of the same sex more as compared to girls. Bandura furthered that observational learning involves a live, verbal, or symbolic models. This means that exemplars may be live people or animals, auditory directions, or characters that may be seen in different kinds of media such as movies and books. The process starts with attention which entails interest on the part of the observer. After significant amount of attention is paid to the stimulus, retention ensues. This implies that the learner encodes observed information in his memory. Reproduction then happens when the observed behaviour gets replicated by the learner. Motivation comes into play when the observer experiences reinforcement after the reproduction. A learner may repeat the observed behaviour after a reward. Secondly, an individual’s mental condition is essential. Aside from external rewards, internal reinforcement enhances a person’s motivation to pay attention to the model. When one can feel and think satisfied as a result of observing, the social learning will be more successful. Thirdly, observational learning does not always lead to a change in behaviour. Novel knowledge can be earned without palpable alterations in one’s actions. “Social learning theory began as an attempt by Robert Sears and others to meld psychoanalytic and stimulus-response learning theory into a comprehensive explanation of human behaviour, drawing on the clinical richness of the former and the rigor of the latter” (Grusec, 1992, p.776). Though Bandura is most opulently related to this theory, it actually originated from Sears. The history dates back to the time of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis. In 1935, there was a major movement that sought to unify learning and psychoanalytic theories. This resulted to Sears’ focus on socialization as significant aspect of the research. Particularly, he found out that children were being affected by the milieu that he encounters day by day. Children adapt the values and attitudes that their parents portray. Bandura agreed with some assertions of Sears but went against some. “Bandura is clearly the intellectual heir of Sears, influenced by but also reacting against the tradition that Sears represented” (Grusec, 1992, p.776). Together, the two experts utilize learning concepts in explaining how humans develop socially. Sears was more of the stimulus-response theorist. It is a variation of Hullian learning theory as well as of the psychoanalytic perspective. Other theorists such as Julian Rotter reacted on the theory and suggested that the environment can also influence behaviour. He stressed that psychological factors are not sole precursors of feelings and actions (Rotter, 1954). Similarly, Bandura was shaped by Skinner’s then radical approach with his operational conditioning. This later progressed to a theory which is more laden with information-processing concepts. His view, which is the most current also stretched on Rotter’s understandings. Bandura’s premise includes behavioural as well as cognitive aspects. Basically, he affirmed that behaviour is caused by the social and psychological factors wherein attention, retention, and motivation are fundamental conditions. Social learning theory is very important for communication scholars since it delves into essential aspects of learning speech, understanding, and giving impressions on others. Since the theory focuses on imitation as a way of learning behaviour, it is especially related to communication since speech is mostly acquired through simulation. This has also been held true in lower forms of animals. “One type of social learning has attracted particular attention among biologists and psychologists: imitation” (Dautenhahn, Nehaniv, & Alissandrakis, 2007, p.1). In almost all kinds of living things, social interaction has been indispensable. Imitation has been central in any kind of culture, belief, and other kinds of behaviour. Language is the prime mechanism for communication. Particularly for humans, the facilitation and expression of symbols is a sign of intelligence and is the hallmark as compared to animals. From birth, people have been good at replication actions and sounds. In contrast to animals, humans imitate with a deeper sense of understanding. This is now where true communication takes place. One example of how social learning theory connects with communication is mass media. Sources such as television, magazines, the web, and others have greatly influenced the masses across the globe. Many individuals’ role models have been the actors and actresses that are widely commercialized. The way in which many talk and act have in one way or the other reflected the trend being circulated by mass communication. Most people nowadays are aware of how children have been absorbing information from shows. Observational learning has been intensely utilized by young minds. As children become teenagers, their identity has become prominently enmeshed with vogue advertisements. A number of products have been marketed because of social learning. Through attractive role models, the public has promoted billions of products. There are many communication scholars who worked on the role of social learning. Kevin O’ Rorke wrote a paper entitled, “Social Learning Theory and Mass Communication”. His paper asserted that people have been exceedingly learning from online, printed, and other kinds of media (2003). For instance, the transmission of information through social networks is quite apparent. Family members talk about what they have just watched. Peers conversations are being navigated by the current news regarding celebrities. Co-workers discuss about what was written on the weather report during mundane hours. Comparable to social learning theory’s “reciprocal determinism”, the individual affects the society and the environment also influences the person’s behaviour. Furthermore, Hugh Duncan’s movement regarding communicative action relates social order with exchange of ideas. His theory of communication talks about his principles as a premise for societies. Specifically, he discussed the importance of the perception of authority when communicating. In connection to the social learning theory, the role model’s authority affects his credibility. For example, the model can communicate better if he would be recognized by the public. This can explain why some artists are able to impact millions of people through dance crazes, fashion statements, and trendy expressions. A very current and popular example is South Korea’s Psy. Though he used Korean language, his song and dance has become viral in numerous countries. As of now, people in different continents such as America, Australia, and Europe are very much aware of “Gangnam Style”. Likewise, many politicians use role models with high credibility in convincing voters. One of the most famous if not the most popular scholar on communication is Naom Chomsky. Her studies immensely center on language acquisition. Her theory agrees with Bandura’s position that the environment has a great deal to do with learning. They both concur that language can be obtained through interaction with the surroundings as well as the individuals’ psychological processes. The two experts also mentioned that the flow of verbal and nonverbal communication among individuals initiate significant changes in respective members of a community. Another popular name that can be related to both communication and social learning is Lev Vygotsky. His work was on sociocultural aspects. He was a Soviet psychologist who posited that social interaction and language development are related. A child’s ability to communicate is greatly affected by the nurturance that he receives from his environment. He termed this is “scaffolding”. It means that a child can be more skilled in speaking and listening if he is guided by capable adults. For instance, when a child starts to produce syllabic sounds, he may be further prodded to name objects by the adults around him. This may be also applicable in other tasks besides language. The main point is that social context affects an individuals’ interaction repertoire. Social learning theory has been an interest of researchers in their studies. One of the papers regarding the theory was done by Wells-Wilbon and Holland. Their study entitled, “Social Learning Theory and the Influence of Male Role Models on African American Children in PROJECT 2000” looked into 55 African American students (2001). The participants were involved in a teaching program which was called PROJECT 2000. The educational mentoring program sought to assist African-American males. Some of their projects include support in teaching math, writing, reading, and other related subjects. Observational learning was incorporated in one of their schemes. The foundation asked for male volunteer teacher assistants to work with full time teachers in the classrooms. They were established as authorities in the classroom as they helped in facilitating the lesson plans. The study then specifically aimed to find out whether the male role models had a significant influence on the social learning of the respondents. During the time of the study, the students were in the fifth grade. Pertinent data were then collected through triangulation. Interviews, records, and observations showed that the role models had essential impact on the learning of the children. For the most part, they encouraged good behaviour among the students. The paper concluded that children can greatly benefit from teachers exhibiting positive behaviour. Demirbas and Yagbasan’s study concerning primary school students emphasized social learning in their experiments. The title of their report is “An Evaluative Study of Social Learning Theory Based Scientific Attitudes on Academic Success, Gender and Socio-economical Level” (2006). Mainly, the researches goal is to address the effect of social learning theory based teaching activities on the participants’ mind-set concerning science subjects among students in the seventh grade. The experiment entailed a pre-test as well as a post-test. The procedures required the respondents to answer questionnaires that can measure attitude towards science. Moore and Foy’s Scientific Attitude Inventory was utilized. The assessment included 40 questions. Responses were evaluated before and after the activities. The results were then analysed with statistical treatments. The conclusions denote that “scientific attitude post-test and retention test scores of the experimental group students whose activities were based on social learning theory were found to be higher than their pre-test scores” ( Demirbas, & Yagbasan, 2006, p.367). The experiment then implies that the classroom undertakings grounded on observational learning were effective in increasing the level of positive attitude regarding science among the seventh graders. Another paper studied the empirical status of social learning theory of crime and deviance. Akers and Jensen aspired to review empirical studies concerning the theory’s validity in elucidating crime as well as deviancy (2003). Secondly, the researchers targeted to discuss possible alternatives for developing and verifying social learning theory in the coming years. The paper considered findings in the last fifty years. Furthermore, studies on the relationship of social learning and the family were cogitated. There were also papers on peers and their group’s contexts. Topics on sequence and feedback effects regarding the social learning process were likewise deliberated. As for the researcher’s second aim, literature on the varied challenges was contemplated. Themes on imitation, contagion, and auto correlation were specified. Moreover, the conceptual overlap with organizational theory was conferred. The separable effects of structure and culture were also discoursed. Other issues focused on multiple cultural processes and forms, countervailing mechanisms, and structural correlates. As a whole, social learning theory may be effectively utilized to explain concepts in both micro and macro levels. Results of a number of researches in the past have ascertained that social learning is indeed in some way or the other connected to criminal behaviour. Even if not all studies lead to that conclusion, substantial amount of papers state that imitation can influence delinquency. In fact, the area on social learning theory has the most number of studies in relation to crime. Particularly, the most collective kind of variable is peer association. Numerous researchers were intent on looking into the effect of peers as role models in criminal engagement. Lastly, the researchers stated that the attention on this theory may lessen in the future. This may be cause by the upsurge of issues already being related to the theory. Since observational learning and its related concepts have received countless attention from many experts in different fields, the forthcoming generations may seek to study other novel topics. On the other hand, several experts in the future may also want to verify completed studies. A very recent paper written by Choi, Gale, and Kariv (2012) presented a research on social learning in networks. They agreed that this kind of learning happens when individuals observe the ones in their environment. The authors delved into complexities of observational learning within social systems. “This paper reports an experimental investigation of learning in three-person networks and uses the theoretical framework of Gale and Kariv (2003) to interpret the data generated by the experiments. The family of three-person networks includes several non-trivial architectures, each of which gives rise to its own distinctive learning patterns” (p.2). The researchers concluded that their experimental design proposes efficiency for analysing future social learning in networks. Their intricate model may be expended for the evaluation of graphs as long as connectedness is established. Specifically, networks or social linkages are operative contrivances that may be applied in the discernment of social phenomena. To an extent, social learning theory may be comprehended through the nature of the participants’ network. One of Bandura’s theory’s downside is the toning down of several important factors such as cognition. Though the overall premise has some relevance to mental processes, the actual importance is not emphasized. For instance, an individual’s IQ would greatly have an impact on the speed of imitation. Generally, those who have higher mental capacity can learn faster as compared to others. Moreover, a person’s acumen can greatly affect his decision whether to follow a certain role model or exhibited behaviour or not. In relation to intelligence, the notion of wisdom is not quite stressed. Many people refuse to copy others’ examples because they believe that it is not appropriate. Some wise individuals also go beyond what they observe and use it as a basis for coming up with a more cultivated conduct. Additionally, the aspect of motivation is not that much underscored. Social learning theory maintains that the interest to demonstrate behaviour is increased by social rewards such as words of approval or from the reinforcement that the model receives. However, motivation can also be usually actualized by innate forces such as drives and instincts. For instance, a child may automatically imitate her playmate because of the instinct of gregariousness. Other facets of motivation such as free will were not also significantly pointed out. On a larger part, the theory treats the individual as a more of a passive organism. A person may voluntarily employ observational learning even if it obviously poses negative results or difficulties since he believes that it is good for his being. The standpoint of geneticists is not also so well represented in the theory. It is possible that genes may mainly affect a person’s learning. Though Bandura’s theory mentioned the influence of biological factors, the specific details were not very much accentuated. For instance, someone’s probability to imitate violent role models may be enhanced by his DNA make-up. According to more than a few sources, specified varieties of behavioural propensities may be inherited. Besides, its criticisms, the theory is still very much useful. One of its utilizations is its aspect of integration. Observational learning can incorporate other perspectives such as cognitive, and behaviourist. Its concepts can also be applied in educational know-how. It has an involvement in mental practices due to the notion of mastery. For example, when children imitate a role model, they can better reproduce the action with optimal mastery. A child following her mother who is demonstrating how to tie shoelaces can better achieve the task independently if he has already grasped the procedure. When it comes to behaviourism, its feature is shown through the increased repetition of behaviour observed because of reward. When a child notices that other people smile when he dances the steps that he has watched on the television, he will repeat his moves. Moreover, this theory is especially useful in convincing individuals that authority and popularity must be used appropriately. This is particularly true when it comes to children and adolescents. Most of them have been momentously shaped by powerful role models such as teachers, actors, super models, and even fictional characters. Even a number of adults have been impelled by these examples. The ones who would not agree or like this theory would be those having strong behaviorist perspectives. Since antisocial learning theory believers assert that one must learn because of punishments or rewards that are normally tangible, they would think that Bandura’s theory is a weak explanation of learning behaviour. Those belonging to the humanistic perspective group may also question this theory since it does not say much about free will. They may insist that someone does not need a role model to initiate or complete an action. Reflexively, the theory resonates with my responsibility as a possible role model to others. In my daily activities, I may be in one way or the other influencing a certain life. There could have been times when I was unaware that I was being observed and imitated. This is specifically true when children are around. Young minds have very fragile and susceptible minds. As what the cliche says, “Monkey see, monkey do”. Many children copy the distinct behaviour of adults around them. I distinctively remember how many of my decisions, interests, and fashion statements have been guided by observational learning. For example, from an early age, I had observed an older relative draw and paint scenic pictures. Those instances prompted me to like and practice art. As a result, I persuaded my mother to take me to summer art classes. Another example which is not only applicable to me but to all teenagers as well is how many look up to fashion models and celebrities for direction. Personalities have manipulated people to shop and dress like them. Since most adolescents want to feel accepted, they seek fashion magazines and popular tube shows for help. Juveniles can change how they look, what they say, and who they go along with just to show that they are trendy. When Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson endorse certain brands, their fans would be very likely to more than willingly follow their exemplars. Hence, as consumers, we should be wise in following endorsers. Mere observational learning should not be employed in all situations and in making evaluations. A good sense of judgement must aid in following paragons. It should be highlighted that a pattern of behaviour exhibited by a popular person is not always right to be followed. People need to see beyond facades and other superficial fronts before deciding to be followers or admirers of public figures or authorities. Similarly, famous individuals should be wary of how they present themselves to the anticipating masses. Every move and word that they display may significantly change a viewer’s routine. Programs should take note of the nature of their audience in planning for their productions. For example, prime time shows have to be careful in how they present their materials since most members of the population are probably watching at that time. Aside from public personas, authorities should also be normally dignified in their conduct. For instance, politicians especially those who hold high offices incorporate serious responsibility in indicating their popularity. Other authority figures such as teachers should likewise be conscious of their impact on others. Since youngsters usually impressively esteem their teachers, they have become inspirations for many students. During the school age, children spend most of their day time in school. This makes teachers very powerful social agents in the community. Analogously, every person’s observational learning starts at home. The family is the smallest social unit. Therefore, parents, primary care givers, and elder relatives should teach children by their own examples. This precept may be applied in disciplining, motivating, and instructing youths. Simply rearing kids through verbal guidelines is very weak. Children learn better through concrete visible examples. Though walking the talk can be challenging, it is extraordinarily potent in edifying minds. All in all, Bandura’s social learning theory contends that a change in behaviour transpires through vicarious methods. It includes paying attention and imitating behaviour prototypes. Like any other theory, it has its respective strengths and weaknesses. Observational learning can be applied in various aspects. It can also be utilized by people from different walks of life. Indeed, social learning is an indispensable component of human beings’ existence. Handout Social Learning Theory The proponent of Social Learning Theory is Albert Bandura. He asserted that learning can happen by observing others. It is otherwise known as observational learning or modelling. Its processes include attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. The processes were apparent in Bandura’s experiment with children (Sims, & Manz, 1982). His Bobo Doll experiment showed that the participants observed the role model (attention). After watching, they were able to remember specific behaviors of the model (retention). The children were then able to imitate the observed actions and speech (reproduction). Lastly, the respondents may be motivated to reproduce the behaviour because of any kind of reinforcement. Though Bandura is popularly related to the theory, Robert Sears was the first expert who delved into the principle (Grusec, 1992). He maintained that socialization is a significant aspect of learning. Other theorists such as Julian Rotter (1954) concurred with the theory and suggested that the environment can also influence behaviour. Social learning theory is very important for communication scholars since it delves into essential aspects of learning speech, understanding, and giving impressions on others. Several communication scholars related its principles to issues like mass media (O’ Rorke, 2003). Furthermore, Naom Chomsky’s theory agrees with Bandura’s position that the environment has a great deal to do with learning language. Observational learning can be very much applied in different fields such as education, family values, and even crime. Some of the theory’s criticisms are its lack of consideration regarding other perspectives such as free will and heredity. However, it also has numerable strengths such as integration with other aspects like cognition and motivation. References Akers, R., & Jensen, B. (2003). Empirical status of social learning theory of crime and deviance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(2), 162-184. Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Stamford, CU: General Learning Press. Dautenhahn, K., Nehaniv, C., & Alissandrakis, A. (2007). Learning by experience from others- social learning and imitation in animals and robots. Herts: University of Hertfordshire. Demirbas, M., & Yagbasan, R. (2006). An evaluative study of social learning theory based scientific attitudes on academic success, gender, and socioeconomic level. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 6(2), 363-371. Grusec, J.E. (1992). Social learning theory and developmental psychology: The legacies of Robert Sears and Albert Bandura. American Psychological Association, Inc., 28(5), 776-786. O’ Rorke, K. Social learning theory and mass communication. Arizona Business Education Association, 25(2), 72-74. Rotter, J.B. (1954). Social Learning and Clinical Psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall Sims, H., & Manz, C. (1982). Social learning theory. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 3(4), 55–63  Wells-Wilbon, R., & Holland, S. (2001, December). Social learning theory and the influence of male role models on African American children in PROJECT 2000. The Qualitative Report, 6(4). Retrieved from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR6-4/wellswilbon.html Read More