Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory and behaviourism
One of the major issues in understanding and explaining learning in humans is the extent to
which inner or outer forces control our behaviour
o Traditional Behaviourism
What does the behaviourist approach claim?
The behaviourism approach claims that environmental or outer forces are all that
need to be taken into account, specifically reinforcement and punishment.
What was the problem with this?
Not everyone agreed with Skinner’s radical behaviourism – that all behaviour was
learnt by direct reinforcement.
How did social learning theory develop?
The social learning theory developed out of the traditional behaviourist approach.
Who developed social learning theory?
The idea of social learning was developed into a major theory by Albert Bandura
Why did Bandura develop social learning theory?
Bandura developed social learning theory in the 1960’s to explain human behaviour and
learning in a more complex way than the stimulus-response of behaviourist approach/
What did social learning theory claim?
Social learning theory claims that both inner and outer forces have to be taken into account,
especially for human behaviour.
What did the social learning theory approach attempt to do?
Social learning theory attempted to build upon the ideas of behaviourism and bridge the gap
to the cognitive approach.
, Social Learning Theory and the cognitive approach
o The cognitive approach
Social learning theory acknowledged the importance of learning but at the same
time moved away from radical behaviourism in taking into account the importance
of cognitive processes involved in learning
How?
Central to Bandura’s belief was that the mind, behaviour, and the environment all
play an important role in learning
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory (SLT) proposed a different way in which people learn; through
observation and imitation of others within a social context – social learning.
What is the social learning theory based on?
SLT is based on observational learning;
Bandura thought that learning could occur simply as a result of one person watching
another person behave and observing the consequences of behaviour for the other person.
What are those consequences?
The consequences are either rewarding or punishment.
Social learning theory and behaviourism
One of the major issues in understanding and explaining learning in humans is the extent to
which inner or outer forces control our behaviour
o Traditional Behaviourism
What does the behaviourist approach claim?
The behaviourism approach claims that environmental or outer forces are all that
need to be taken into account, specifically reinforcement and punishment.
What was the problem with this?
Not everyone agreed with Skinner’s radical behaviourism – that all behaviour was
learnt by direct reinforcement.
How did social learning theory develop?
The social learning theory developed out of the traditional behaviourist approach.
Who developed social learning theory?
The idea of social learning was developed into a major theory by Albert Bandura
Why did Bandura develop social learning theory?
Bandura developed social learning theory in the 1960’s to explain human behaviour and
learning in a more complex way than the stimulus-response of behaviourist approach/
What did social learning theory claim?
Social learning theory claims that both inner and outer forces have to be taken into account,
especially for human behaviour.
What did the social learning theory approach attempt to do?
Social learning theory attempted to build upon the ideas of behaviourism and bridge the gap
to the cognitive approach.
, Social Learning Theory and the cognitive approach
o The cognitive approach
Social learning theory acknowledged the importance of learning but at the same
time moved away from radical behaviourism in taking into account the importance
of cognitive processes involved in learning
How?
Central to Bandura’s belief was that the mind, behaviour, and the environment all
play an important role in learning
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory (SLT) proposed a different way in which people learn; through
observation and imitation of others within a social context – social learning.
What is the social learning theory based on?
SLT is based on observational learning;
Bandura thought that learning could occur simply as a result of one person watching
another person behave and observing the consequences of behaviour for the other person.
What are those consequences?
The consequences are either rewarding or punishment.
