, CMY3701
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 14 AUGUST 2026
QUESTION 1 - The Role of Observation and Imitation in Learning Violence: An Analysis Using
Bandura's Social Learning Theory
1. Introduction
The surge of violence in South African schools, as documented in the case study, reflects a broader
societal crisis where children are exposed to and subsequently replicate aggressive behaviours they
observe in their homes and communities. Dr. Keitumetse Mashego's observation that "children
learn from what they see in their homes and society" aligns directly with Albert Bandura's Social
Learning Theory (1977), which posits that human behaviour is acquired through observational
learning and modelling.¹ Bandura famously stated that "learning would be exceedingly laborious,
not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform
them what to do".² This discussion provides an in-depth analysis of how observation and imitation
facilitate learning, supported by scientific literature and the referenced newspaper article.
2. The Mechanism of Observational Learning
Bandura's Social Learning Theory fundamentally challenged behaviourist perspectives by
demonstrating that learning can occur without direct reinforcement.³ The theory posits that
portions of an individual's knowledge acquisition can be directly related to observing others within
the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences.⁴ This is particularly
significant when examining how violence is transmitted across generations and social contexts.
Bandura's theory is often described as a bridge between behaviourism and cognitive learning
theories as it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation.⁵
Footnotes
¹ A. Bandura, Social Learning Theory (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1977), 22.
² Ibid., 22.
³ Ibid., 18.
⁴ A. Bandura, "Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication," in Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research, ed. J. Bryant and D.
Zillmann (Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1994), 61-90.
⁵ D.P. Farrington and M.M. Ttofi, "Developmental and Psychological Theories of Offending," in Forensic Psychology: Crime, Justice, Law,
Interventions, 2nd ed., ed. G. Davies and A. Beech (BPS Blackwell, 2017), 38.
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 14 AUGUST 2026
QUESTION 1 - The Role of Observation and Imitation in Learning Violence: An Analysis Using
Bandura's Social Learning Theory
1. Introduction
The surge of violence in South African schools, as documented in the case study, reflects a broader
societal crisis where children are exposed to and subsequently replicate aggressive behaviours they
observe in their homes and communities. Dr. Keitumetse Mashego's observation that "children
learn from what they see in their homes and society" aligns directly with Albert Bandura's Social
Learning Theory (1977), which posits that human behaviour is acquired through observational
learning and modelling.¹ Bandura famously stated that "learning would be exceedingly laborious,
not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform
them what to do".² This discussion provides an in-depth analysis of how observation and imitation
facilitate learning, supported by scientific literature and the referenced newspaper article.
2. The Mechanism of Observational Learning
Bandura's Social Learning Theory fundamentally challenged behaviourist perspectives by
demonstrating that learning can occur without direct reinforcement.³ The theory posits that
portions of an individual's knowledge acquisition can be directly related to observing others within
the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences.⁴ This is particularly
significant when examining how violence is transmitted across generations and social contexts.
Bandura's theory is often described as a bridge between behaviourism and cognitive learning
theories as it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation.⁵
Footnotes
¹ A. Bandura, Social Learning Theory (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1977), 22.
² Ibid., 22.
³ Ibid., 18.
⁴ A. Bandura, "Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication," in Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research, ed. J. Bryant and D.
Zillmann (Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1994), 61-90.
⁵ D.P. Farrington and M.M. Ttofi, "Developmental and Psychological Theories of Offending," in Forensic Psychology: Crime, Justice, Law,
Interventions, 2nd ed., ed. G. Davies and A. Beech (BPS Blackwell, 2017), 38.
