Banduras Social Learning Theory - Term Paper Example

The observational learning theory of Bandura says that children learn through observation and imitation, and he was famous for his Bobo doll experiment. The experiment was done to explain three aspects of aggression: why aggression develops, what causes people to behave aggressively, and thirdly, what provokes them to continue this aggressive behavior. He explained that there were four component processes used in the observational theory, namely attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation.

The attention process is that the individuals need to perceive the modeled process as important and therefore, they must attend to the significant features of the process to reproduce it. Retention is the next step, the individuals must retain the modeled behavior to reproduce it again, and without retention, they would not produce it again. The third process of modeled reproduction pertains to learning the physical capabilities of the action to be able to produce the action. The final component in the process is motivation in which the participant expects to receive positive reinforcements to produce the modeled behavior.
Bandura says that today children learn aggressive behavior from the environment by looking at their elders and especially through TV films and shows (Bandura, 1962).

The social learning theory also emphasizes that modeling occurs through environmental factors such as the model to be followed and the reinforcements that the person is getting in response to the behavior. The observer might be reinforced by the model, or a third person, or the imitated behavior may lead to reinforcing results on its own. Sometimes, there is vicarious reinforcement in the behavior. This is when a response is given positive feedback and as a result, an increase in that behavior is carried out. This was illustrated in the Bobo doll experiment of Bandura. Children were shown a doll being hit, punched, and rolled over by a person, and in response when they imitated the person. When they saw another group being praised for this, they increased their hitting of the doll by themselves. This was termed vicarious learning (Bandura, 1977).
The SOR model (Stimulus-Response Model) says that when a person behaves in a certain way, he is usually stimulated by something in the environment to behave in that way and if he receives positive reinforcement, he then increases his response. In the case of gangs, the people in gangs are aggressive individuals who have violent behaviors towards people and for most of them, their personality is shaped by this during their adolescent years. The avoidance of punishment or the positive reinforcement in the form of their goal being achieved motivates them to consistently perform in a certain way until they adopt violence as a way of lifestyle and ultimately gain the support of similar individuals to themselves to form a gang. These gangs then collectively very acts of violence such as assault or robberies. The rehabilitation of these types of people is a very challenging task as each of them has developed a personality that is almost impossible to undo as it has penetrated deep within the core of the person.

For the social learning theory to be effective in the person, the personality of the person must contain some inherent characteristics. They are giving attention to the behavior being carried out and not even giving just mere attention but also retaining the desired behavior so that they copy it. Thus, memory plays an important role in the reproduction of the behavior. Another characteristic of the person is the anticipation stage. In this stage, the person sees the behavior being modeled and then anticipates whether to adopt this behavior or not. Another important judgment is that of social status. The higher the social status of the person, the less his chances are of carrying out aggressive behavior. This is because people at higher social levels are more aware of their social image and what others think of them, so they do not indulge in activities involving violence.
Self-efficacy is when a person can carry out such behaviors which ultimately cause predictable consequences. In the case of high self-efficacy, people are confident of being able to execute reactions that are required for earning reinforcers, and in the case of self-efficacy being low, the people feel that the reactions that would be required cannot be controlled.

Therefore, in conclusion, I would say that the social learning theory of Bandura applies to gangs in such a way that it says that a person’s personality is majorly shaped by observation of others in the environment, and if they judge it to be giving positive reinforcements, they will copy it. In the absence of punishment or the attainment of their goals, the behavior will be reinforced.