������ý

Learning happens in a classroom, but it doesn’t always come from textbooks, assignments or lesson plans. Students can also learn by observing the behaviors around them and modeling those actions in the future.

Social learning theory is the idea that people learn by observing others and then deciding whether to model similar behaviors. This educational learning theory blends elements of behaviorism and cognitivism. It connects the idea that people learn from environmental influences, like rewards and reinforcement, while also using internal mental processes.

For example, a student may observe a classmate asking the teacher to repeat the instructions before an exam begins. If the teacher praises the classmate for seeking clarification, the other student may notice the positive reinforcement. Later, when that student has questions about the instructions for a future exam, they may be more likely to ask the teacher for clarification.

Psychologist is largely credited with developing this theory. Later in his career, Bandura’s work evolved into social cognitive learning theory, which recognizes that a person’s beliefs and motivations also influence their behavior.

Bandura’s theory seeks to explain how individuals learn and process information. His idea builds on other learning theories, including classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning is the theory that people learn through association. Operant conditioning is the idea that people learn through reinforcement. Compared to those concepts, social learning theory goes further because it argues that people do not need to personally experience a behavior or receive reinforcement to learn from it. Bandura’s theory is that people learn not just through their own experiences, but also through their observation of other people’s experiences. 

Some see it as a complex theory, but essentially it emphasizes three core concepts:

• Observational learning: This refers to learning through observation. An individual watches another person’s behavior and learns from it.
• Intrinsic reinforcement: Bandura believed that a person’s intrinsic motivations, such as pride or personal fulfillment, contribute to their decisions about whether to model a behavior. They don’t base these decisions entirely on external reinforcement.
• Modeling process: The modeling process begins when a person notices a behavior. Even if they don’t model the behavior right away, they’re able to remember and copy it later.

When Bandura later expanded his theory, it also incorporated two other cognitive concepts: reciprocal determinism and self-efficacy. Reciprocal determinism links a person’s behavior, environment and personal characteristics. Together, these elements can create a loop that reinforces certain behaviors.

For example, if an employee feels nervous about speaking up in team meetings, they may keep their opinions to themselves. In this environment, co-workers have no opportunity to respond to the employee’s ideas. As a result, the employee receives minimal feedback and may begin to believe their input isn’t needed, making them even less likely to speak up in future meetings.

The second cognitive factor, self-efficacy, refers to a person’s personal belief in their ability to model a behavior. If someone believes they can change their behavior, they’re more likely to do so.

For example, a student who believes they can improve in math may be more likely to ask for help, study outside of class and practice tough problems. As they begin to solve more problems correctly, they’re more likely to keep practicing and become more confident in their skills.

Observational learning is an essential part of Bandura’s theory. This process involves one person, known as a model, who exhibits a certain behavior. Another person observes the model, notices the outcome and chooses whether to imitate the model’s behavior.

This part of social learning theory has four elements:

• Attention: First, a person must notice a behavior and give it their attention. They observe how the model behaves or acts.
• Retention: The person remembers the behavior or action they observed and retains the memory for later.
• Reproduction: Later, the person chooses to model the behavior they observed.
• Motivation: The person must have a reason behind choosing to exhibit the behavior. Motivation can come from external reinforcement, such as seeing another person rewarded for a behavior, but it can also be internal.

Models can come in many forms, including teachers, peers, supervisors, authority figures and media. Someone may be a model without even realizing it.

For example, someone moving into a new home may observe and remember a friendly neighbor who came by to welcome them to the neighborhood. When another new family moves in a few months later, the homeowner may remember the kind gesture and decide to introduce themselves in the same friendly manner.

Other times, models may be more aware of how their behaviors influence others. A teacher in a first-grade classroom, for instance, may deliberately choose to model appropriate behavior to their young students by saying “please” and “thank you” often.

In the 1960s, Bandura conducted a study, known as the Bobo doll experiment, which supported his theory. As part of the study, young children watched adults interact with an inflatable doll. Some children watched adults behaving aggressively toward the doll, while others observed non-aggressive models.

When the children had the opportunity to interact with the doll by themselves, the ones who had observed violent behavior were more likely to act aggressively toward the doll. Those who had watched the non-aggressive models behaved more mildly.

This experiment became an important part of Bandura’s education research because it showed how observation can shape behavior. It helped prove that children can learn by watching others, even if they’re not personally rewarded or corrected for behaving a certain way.

While the study was foundational to Bandura’s theory in the 1960s, it has received some criticism in the decades since. have raised the issue of exposing children to violent behaviors while arguing that other factors, such as the unusual setting and children’s natural desire to please adults, may have also influenced the outcomes.

Despite the criticism, the Bobo doll experiment remains a landmark study known for forming the basis of observational learning and social learning theory.

Today, the theory continues to have applications across sectors, including education. In classrooms, students observe how their classmates and teachers behave. They also see how others respond to those behaviors, which can influence their decisions to model similar behaviors in the future.

For example, teachers can model the importance of a tidy workspace by keeping their own desks neat.

Peers can also be models for students. If a classmate asks a new student to sit with them at lunch, another classmate may notice this behavior and extend the same courtesy the next time a new student arrives.

School is a natural setting for children to learn behaviors, but it’s not the only place or time such learning can occur. Social learning theory also has applications for adults, who may learn from various models, such as managers, co-workers, neighbors, family members or public figures.

In adult settings, the theory can apply to workplace training, mentorship and professional development. A junior-level employee may watch a manager treat everyone with respect, seeing how this approach inspires the team to work hard and deliver quality work. As the employee progresses into higher positions, they may model a similar leadership style because they want to have the same effect on the people they now manage.

Outside of more traditional learning environments, the theory has broader applications. Its uses can include public health messaging and behavior interventions. If a health campaign shows someone getting a routine vaccination to help avoid getting sick, a viewer may notice the behavior, remember the outcome and decide to schedule their own vaccination.

Media professionals, public figures and social media influencers can also serve as models, shaping how people consume, process and act on information.

Social learning theory has many applications in education. If you’d like to explore this theory and other ideologies behind the science of learning and behavior, ������ý offers education programs, including:

• Bachelor’s degrees in education
• Master’s degrees in education
• Doctoral degrees in education
• Post-master’s certificates in education

To learn more about these programs, contact ������ý to request more information.