Social Learning Approach

Section 1: Fundamentals of Social Learning Approach

  • Social Learning Theory argues that people learn from one another through observation, imitation and modelling.
  • The theory is a bridge between behaviourist theories, which stress external causes of behaviour, and cognitive theories, which focus on internal processes.
  • Albert Bandura is the key proponent of this approach which emerged in the late 1960s.

Section 2: Role of Observation and Imitation

  • We learn by observing others and then imitating, or modelling, what we have observed.
  • Not all observed behaviours are effectively learned; factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role this.
  • This observational learning takes place within a social context and is not purely dependent on reinforcement.

Section 3: Modelling Behaviours

  • Models are those from whom others learn and can include parents, peers, teachers, or media personalities.
  • The first component of modelling is attention, i.e., the person must first pay attention to the model.
  • This is followed by retention (the observer must remember what has been paid attention to), motor reproduction (the observer must be capable of reproducing the action) and motivation (learners must expect that they will receive positive reinforcements for the modelled behaviour).

Section 4: Role of Reinforcement in Social Learning

  • Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in social learning, but their effects are indirect, unlike in behaviourist theories.
  • Cognitive processes are also central - learning will not follow observation unless cognitive processes of understanding and remembering the observed action have taken place.
  • Observing someone else receive a reward or punishment for a behaviour can have a strong influence on the observer’s behaviour, a process known as vicarious reinforcement.

Section 5: Social Learning Approach to Health

  • Bandura proposed that many behaviours, including health behaviours, can be learned through the process of observational learning.
  • Negative health behaviours such as smoking, overeating, or lack of exercise can be learned through observation and modelling of behaviours prevalent in the social or family environment.
  • Positive health behaviours can also be promoted through this approach, for example through public health campaigns that model healthy behaviours.