Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

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Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT), introduced in the 1960s, bridged the gap between traditional behaviorism and cognitive psychology.
1. The Core Philosophy: "Learning by Observation" Bandura famously proved that humans are "social models." We observe a behavior, form an idea of how it's performed, and use that coded information as a guide for future action. The Bobo Doll Experiment (1961)This is the cornerstone of SLT. Bandura showed children a film of an adult acting aggressively toward an inflatable "Bobo doll." The Result: Children who witnessed the aggressive model were significantly more likely to imitate the behavior when left alone with the doll. The Lesson: Learning can occur without any change in immediate behavior or direct reinforcement.2. The Four Meditational Processes Bandura identified four mental steps that must happen between observing a behavior and imitating it. If one of these is missing, learning won't "stick." Process Description Attention You have to actually notice the behavior. Distinctive or "high-status" models (celebrities, parents) grab more attention. Retention You must remember what you saw. This involves mental imagery or verbal coding. Reproduction You must have the physical or mental ability to perform the behavior. (Watching a pro dunk a basketball doesn't mean you suddenly can.)Motivation You need a reason to do it. This is often driven by Vicarious Reinforcement (seeing someone else get rewarded for the act).3. Reciprocal Determinism Bandura didn't believe humans were just products of their environment. He proposed a triangle of influence called Reciprocal Determinism: Personal Factors: Your thoughts, beliefs, and biological traits. Behavior: Your actual actions and choices. Environment: Your physical surroundings and social context. Key Takeaway: You influence your environment just as much as it influences you. It’s a two-way street.4. Self-Efficacy Perhaps Bandura’s most famous specific concept is Self-Efficacy—the belief in your own ability to succeed in specific situations. High Self-Efficacy: You view difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered. Low Self-Efficacy: You view difficult tasks as threats to be avoided.