Throughout the past several hundred years, people have come up with reasons to why one does what he/she does. Some claim that the way he/she behaves is hereditary or even one may claim that he/she is just born with this natural instinct. Albert Bandura came up with a theory to prove both ideas wrong. Bandura has left an impact on psychology for years, and his social cognitive theory has been a huge contribution in science and life since the mid 1900s.
Albert Bandura began his journey to becoming a leading psychologist after he graduated graduate school from the University of Iowa in 1952 (Boeree, 1998). From there he began teaching at Stanford University, and began observing how aggressiveness in children relates to family patterns (Pervin, Cervone, & John, 2005). Albert Bandura started this study with his graduate student Richard Walters. Together they noticed that aggressive children were more likely to have aggressive parents. Walters then observed that the behavior of the child was based off of the kids observation to the people the child is surrounded by (Pervin, Cervone, & John, 2005).
Based on the information Bandura and Walters gathered, the two decided to conduct an experiment to gather how one acts based on observation. They conducted the experiment using a bobo doll. The researchers brought a child into a playroom where there were several likeable toys for the child to play with. Along with the child in the room, an adult was also in the room. The adult quietly played with the bobo doll using aggression (kicking, punching, throwing it down, etc.) while the child observed the adults actions. The child was then left to play with any toy in the room. After observing the adult play with the bobo doll, the child mimicked the...
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Retained from Albert Bandura and Richard Walter’s experiment, attention is the first behavior from observational learning. Following attention, retention is the next step in observational learning. In order for the observer to mimic the behavior, he/she must retain the information in his/her memory (Allen & Santrock, 1993: p139). Motor production is the next step in observational learning. The individual must be able to reproduce the actions and or behaviors made by the model. The final step to observational learning is reinforcement. The more the individual reinforces the information observed, the more likely he/she will be able to store it into long term memory for the individual to be able to produce the behavior again (Delores Isom, 1998). Because of Albert Bandura, society is now able to understand how one learns from observation.
Bandura believed that individual learn by observing others and their environment (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). He believed in the effect of modeling (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). Antwone did not have any positive influences on his childhood. He was born in a correctional facility. Not only was his father killed, but his mother was in prison. As a result, he was raised in a foster home. His foster mother was Ms. Tate. She was verbally and physically abusive. Her daughter also made a negative impact on his life. Her daughter molested Antwone. Bandura could have related his current behavior to what he had witnessed as a child. According to the some of the research that was done by Bandura, children that witnesses aggressive behavior also displayed aggressive behavior (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). This is apparent in the life of Antwone Fisher. He was always getting in physical altercations.
Bandura’s theory uses the social- learning approach. This approach would explain that Antwone was a product of what he saw. This showed in the behaviors that he displayed. This approach derives from the behaviorist approach (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). Bandura would believe that one learns by observing what is taking place in his or her environment and the people that are around the individual (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). Modeling was very important to Bandura (Schultz & Schultz, 2013).
In 1977, Psychologist Albert Bandura adopted the Social Learning Theory making it an influential and important theory. Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning capabilities. Bandura argued that individuals could learn new information and behavior by watching other individuals and the type of leanings can be explained by a wide variety of behaviors. This theory acknowledges that just because something has been learned, it does not mean that it will result in a change in behavior. However, the influence from others can cause a change in
One of the most researched topics in the history of psychology is aggression. One goal of social scientists has been to define aggression. Some believe that aggression is biologically preprogrammed, others look toward situational factors and this study suggests that aggression is learned. This study was conducted by Albert Bandura and his associates in 1961 at Stanford University. The researchers proposed that the children be exposed to adult models with either aggressive or nonaggressive ways, they would then be tested without the models present to determine if they would imitate that aggression they observed in the adult.
Sullivan. This proposed that individuals learn values, techniques, attitudes and motives for criminal behaviour through their interactions with others . Believing that group-think can possess a large influence on the behaviour of those around people engaging in criminal behaviour . This theory can easily be associated with Albert Banduras observational learning theory that is based on the importance of social factors in learning . It was believed that the reason people start engaging in criminal behaviour is from the group they are associated with. Both theories highlight the importance of observational learning in the younger age bracket. In the case of the crime previously mentioned the youngest member of the gang of thieves was 11 years old. It can rationally be assumed that an 11 year old child does not possess the knowledge to steal a motor vehicle without the explicit teachings of someone older that does possess this “skill”. This exposure to criminal behaviour normalises wrong doings. The more someone is exposed to anti-social stimuli the more acceptable it becomes in their own social world. While Sullivan’s theory has its strong points it also has its criticisms. This critique stems from the idea of rational thought and individualism. Claiming people are independent thinkers with rational actions and individual motives . However, in Banduras Bobo doll experiment the impressionability of children is highlighted and showed that children exposed to certain behaviour are highly likely to repeat the behaviour themselves. Which would ensure a child being directly taught the adverse behaviour would, in turn, be highly likely to repeatedly engage with the same behaviour
Throughout the centuries, we have come across many great thinkers. Most of them, have developed many great theories and ideas to help us grasp a better understanding of our lifestyle and development. When it comes to understanding the human mind, personality, and behaviors, I found the work of Freud and Bandura to be quite intriguing. For instance, Freud explored the human mind and explain what factors influence our behaviors and how our personality comes about, meanwhile, Bandura focus of the different ways through which we learn new behaviors and acquire information.
Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American Psychologist, 44, 1175–1184. Retrieved from Faith University.
According to Social Learning Theory, Bandura (1989) suggested cognitive factors cannot be overlooked if learning is needed to be understood. Bandura has also noted that while reward and punishment substantially shape one 's personality, cognition has as much impact as they do. Also, the principles of behavioural approach have mainly been tested on animals. It implies some findings may not be applicable to a human being, which as a creature is much more complex than an animal.
One factor that affects observational learning is “Skilled vs. Unskilled model.” An example of this is having model who is really good at what they model and never mess up or those who are not pros at what they are modeling but succeed and miss sometimes. Such as learning how to throw free throws you can watch a professional basketball player shoot and also just a person who never played but make some baskets and also miss some baskets. Watching the skilled player, the observer learns what is required for positive results while watching the unskilled player you learn both what one would need to do to get positive results as well as what one should not do to avoid negative results. Another factor that affects observational learning is “Difficulty of the Task”. The more difficult the task the less learning occurs, but sometimes observing a model perform a difficult task improves likelihood of success. In the example of the children and the mats it explains how when there was a more complicated task children did better when they saw the task being performed than those who didn’t. A third factor that affected observational learning is “Consequences of Observed Acts”. An example of this is when children saw an adult hitting an inflated doll and getting praised for example “Good for you! I guess you really fixed him that time” and also some of the children watching the adult hit the same inflated doll but this time getting criticized. The children who observed the adult that
There are four steps in the process of modeling for observational learning. They are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Attention is when you focus on what the person you are observing is doing. Retention is remembering what you observed. Reproduction is performing the behavior you observed, and motivation is wanting to actually do the behavior.(www.courses.lumenlearning.com) The psychologist that most strongly identifies with observational learning is Albert Bandura. He believed that observational learning was the result of cognitive processes that are, “actively judgemental and constructive,” not merely “mechanical copying.”(Bandura) According to Bandura there are three different models to observational learning. They are live model which is behavior in person, verbal model which is not doing a behavior but explaining or describing it, and symbolic model is when people or fictional characters demonstrating behaviors in books,
(McLeod) Bandura is best known for conducting the “Bobo Doll” experiment. He developed the social cognitive theory as well as the self-efficacy theory. The self-efficacy theory states one’s belief in his/ her own ability. Bandura found that people who believed in themselves were more likely to accomplish their goals. (Albert) He coined the “Behaviourist Model” in which the Stimulus (environment) > Black Box (which cannot be studied) > Response Behavior. And also the “Cognitive Model” which is the Input (in
...nd aggressive behavior. In M. H. Bornstein and M. E. Lamb (Eds.), Social, emotional, and personality development. Part III of Developmental Psychology: An Advanced Textbook (2nd Edn.), pp. 461 – 495. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Bandura discusses the importance of observational learning. Bandura focuses mostly on how kids develop their habits based of their role models. Bandura shows this in the Bobo Doll Experiment. The Bobo Doll experiment consisted of 36 boys and 36 girls. They were then separated again into watching a video of a plastic doll called Bobo. Some children were separated by some adults aggressively beating up Bobo and the other half were calm adults. After they were showed the video, the kids were then shown to Bobo and the results matched the Social Learning Theory to the max. The kids that were show the aggressive videos were aggressive towards Bobo. Another Social Learning Theory can be told in my shoes because I have done something similar. I remember in fifth grade my older cousin would always ride his bike down the biggest hill without a helmet. I figured if he did and was okay, why can’t I? I learned the hard way and sliced my arm on a rock. Luckily I did not need stitches however, I did go to the doctors and got ointment for it. I still have the scar today. I feel like the Social Learning Theory has made an impact on my life because I have had the opportunity of having a role model. This role model has made a positive change to my life. Similar to Bobo, I have seen what negative role models have done for a person and how much it affects
Bandura based his conducted theory on modeling behavior and observational learning. His theory also emphasizes conscious cognitive processes and learning and including the importance of beliefs about the self, self-regulation and goal setting. Bandura 's theory of personality is a child 's personality is highly dependent on their social environment as well as their level of self-regulation and self-efficacy. This theory applies too all of the factors in the social cognitive theory as well as the concept of reciprocal determination. Reciprocal determination refers to the collective and continuous interactions that occur between the human behavior, human mind, and environmental factors. Just like when Bandura performed an experiment on a group of toddlers with the Bobo doll and after the conclusions he analyzed humans do learn through observing behaviors, others actions and even the outcome of what behavior they act upon. Essentially what he believes is that humans behavior is effected by and affects the world and environment around
Pierce, W. D., & Cheney, C. D. (2004). The Bobo doll experiment. In C. D. W. David Pierce, Behavior Analysis and Learning (pp. 310-311). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.