Social+Learning+Theory

By: Kalli Black 
 * Social Learning Theory **


 * Social learning theory** focuses on the learning that occurs within a **social context**. It considers that people learn from one another, including such concepts as observational learning, imitation, and modeling.


 * General principles of social learning theory follows: **

1. People can **learn by observing** the behavior is of others and the outcomes of those behaviors. 2. Learning can occur **without a change** in behavior. Behaviorists say that learning has to be represented by a permanent change in behavior, in contrast social learning theorists say that because people can learn through **observation alone**, their learning may not necessarily be shown in their performance. Learning may or may not result in a behavior change. praised for such action. Without being reinforced, the group of children began to also hit the doll. Contemporary social learning perspective of reinforcement and punishment: ** 1. Contemporary theory proposes that both reinforcement and punishment have **indirect effects** on learning. They are not the sole or main cause. 2. Reinforcement and punishment **influence** the extent to which an individual exhibits a behavior that has been learned. 3. The **expectation** of reinforcement **influences cognitive** processes that promote learning. Therefore attention pays a critical role in learning. And attention is influenced by the expectation of reinforcement. An example would be, where the teacher tells a group of students that what they **will study next** is not on the test. Students will not pay attention, because they do not expect to know the information for a test. Cognitive factors in social learning: **
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Social learning theory has cognitive factors as well as behaviorist factors (actually operant factors). 1. Learning without performance: Bandura makes a distinction between learning through **observation** and the actual **imitation** of what has been learned. 2. Cognitive processing during learning: Social learning theorists contend that **attention** is a critical factor in learning. 3. Expectations: As a result of being reinforced, people form expectations **about the consequences** that future behaviors are likely to bring. They expect certain behaviors to bring reinforcements and others to bring punishment. The learner needs to **be aware** however, of the response reinforcements and response punishment. Reinforcement increases a response only when the learner is aware of that connection. 4. Reciprocal causation: Bandura proposed that behavior can influence both the environment and the person. In fact each of these **three variables**, the person, the behavior, and the environment can have an influence on each other. 5. Modeling: There are different **types** of models. There is the **live model**, and actual person demonstrating the behavior. There can also be a **symbolic model**, which can be a person or action portrayed in some other medium,, such as television, videotape, computer programs. Educational implications of social learning theory: **  Social learning theory has numerous implications for classroom use. 1. Students often **learn a great** deal simply by **observing** other people. 2. **Describing** the **consequences** of behavior is can effectively increase the appropriate behaviors and decrease inappropriate ones. This can involve discussing with learners about the rewards and consequences of various behaviors. 3. Modeling provides an **alternative to shaping** for teaching new behaviors. Instead of using shaping, which is operant conditioning, modeling can **provide a faster**, more **efficient** means for teaching new behavior. To promote effective modeling a teacher must make sure that the four essential conditions exist; attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation. 4. Teachers and parents must **model appropriate behaviors** and take care that they do not model inappropriate behaviors. 5. Teachers should **expose** students to a **variety** of other **models**. This technique is especially important to break down traditional stereotypes. 6. Students must **believe** that they are **capable** of accomplishing school tasks. Thus it is very important to develop a sense of **self-efficacy** for students. Teachers can promote such self-efficacy by having students receive confidence-building messages, watch others be successful, and experience success on their own. . 7. Teachers should help students set **realistic expectations** for their academic accomplishments. In general in **my class** that means making sure that expectations are not set **too low**. I want to realistically challenge my students. However, sometimes the task is beyond a student's ability, example would be the **cancer** group. 8. Self-regulation techniques provide an **effective** method for **improving** student **behavior**.
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**Research on Social Learning theory:**
Miller, N. & Dollard, J. (1941). //Social Learning and Imitation//. Yale University Press.

Link to Research on Social Learning and Cognitive []