Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory By: Christina Jilek, RN, CNOR & Shanda Richer, RN, BSN, CEN

Social Learning Theory: short definition Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling; people learn through observing others’ behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those behaviors. (Grusec, 1992) .

Origin of Learning Theory In collaboration with his first doctoral student Richard Walters, Bandura conducted research into the role of modeling and observational learning in child behavior. In 1963, they published Social Learning and Personality Development, in which they stated that an individual could model behavior by just observing the behavior of another. Bandura later developed a comprehensive social cognitive theory of human functioning. In this theory, self-regulatory and self-reflective processes enable the individual to adapt to various situations. This interest in self-efficacy is a central aspect to his theoretical position. This work led to his publication of Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory in 1986 and Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control in 1997

Social Learning Theory “Most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others, one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action.” (Bandura). Social learning theory explains human behavior in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences. (Grusec, 1992) His Social Learning Theory concentrates on the power of example.

Social Learning Theory Bandura believed in “reciprocal determinism” The world and a person’s behavior cause each other One’s environment causes one’s behavior Behavior causes environment (Ormrod, 1999) According to Bandura, “Humans don’t just respond to stimuli, they interpret them”.

Scope/Application Social learning theory has been applied extensively to the understanding of aggression and psychological disorders, particularly in the context of behavior modification It is also the theoretical foundation for the technique of behavior modeling which is widely used in training programs. In recent years, Bandura has focused his work on the concept of self-efficacy in a variety of contexts (Ormrod, 1999) His most famous experiment was the 1961 “Bobo Doll” study. In the experiment, he made a film in which a woman was shown beating up a bobo doll and shouting aggressive words. The film was then shown to a group of children. Afterwards, the children were allowed to play in a room that held a bobo doll. The children immediately began to beat the doll, imitating the actions and words of the woman in the film.

Contributions to Psychology Bandura’s work is considered part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that began in the late 1960s. His theories have had tremendous impact on personality psychology, cognitive psychology, education, and therapy.

Research: Social Cognition "translational research" Several developing countries are using his theory to alter attitudes and behavior toward gender equality, family planning, and health behavior. He showed brief illustrations and discussed "serial dramas" broadcast by radio or television in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and Tanzania. These programs have been carefully designed according to his principles of social influence and behavior change and their impact has been stunning. Enrollment in literacy programs in Mexico rose from 100,000 to 1,000,000 when TV characters learned to read. Radio dramas in Tanzania led to increased condom distribution and reductions in numbers of sexual partners. As a rigorous test of their impact, broadcasts were limited initially to one half of the country. Subsequent broadcasts to the other half of the country yielded the same changes (Bandura, 2004).

Example: Social Learning Theory The most common (and pervasive) examples of social learning situations are television commercials. Commercials suggest that drinking a certain beverage or using a particular hair shampoo will make us popular and win the admiration of attractive people. Depending upon the component processes involved (such as attention or motivation), we may model the behavior shown in the commercial and buy the product being advertised. (Social Learning Theory: Bandura, 2010)

Requirements for Modeling Process Attention: In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning Retention: The ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process. Reproduction: Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed Motivation: In order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. (Social Learning Theory: Bandura, 2010)

Application to Nursing Graduate Nurses—when applied to a preceptorship, it allowed students to work closely with and to practice modeled behaviors of RNs and then receive feedback and reinforcement from both the preceptor and the supervising faculty member Can be applied to social learning environment for patient’s in any area of nursing While the Social Learning Theory can be used for evaluation of the pediatric population in nursing, it is most commonly used for criminology and applied to serial murders and determining their pattern of behavior early in life that led them to be serial killers Social learning theory has much support and is perhaps the dominant theory of crime today. Data indicate that the people one associates with have a large impact on whether or not one engages in crime, and that this impact is partly explained by the effect these people have on one's beliefs regarding crime, the reinforcements and punishments one receives, and the models one is exposed to.

Social Learning in our practice Shanda and I both use Bandura’s Learning Theory when precepting new employees or orienting students. A big part of nursing is learning by example. We not only learn how to do the technical aspect of nursing, but also the emotional and spiritual part of nursing. We learn how to react to different situations and how to adapt to the unexpected. In the hospital setting, we receive positive feedback for going “above and beyond” the call of duty. This encourages more positive behavior on our part.

Social Learning Theory Research Sexuality theorists and researchers have made full and continuous use of social learning theory: Research in this review spans almost the full 40-year history of modern social learning. Although this research spans the breadth of human sexuality, a substantial portion falls into one of four broad categories. These categories are the development of sexuality, adolescent sexuality and contraception, health-related sexual behavior, and models of coercive sexual behavior. (Using social learning theory to explain individual differences in human sexuality - The Use of Theory in Research and Scholarship on Sexuality, 2010) Social learning theory emphasizes the importance of children's imitation of the behavior of others (models). The theory posits that boys learn how to behave as boys from observing and imitating masculine behaviors, especially from their fathers, and girls learn from imitating females, especially their mothers. When children imitate same-sex behaviors, they are rewarded, but imitating the other sex may carry the threat of punishment. Although the research indicates that most parents value the same behaviors for their sons and daughters, some rewards or punishments are given on the basis of gender typing, particularly during play. This is even more true for boys than for girls, with fathers being the most punitive if, for example, they observe their sons playing with Barbie dolls or sporting red fingernail polish.

How can we apply the Social Learning Theory in our practice? Utilizing positive feedback Assess patient’s sensory capacities, arousal level and perception Many behaviors can be learned through modeling. Examples: students can watch parents read, students can watch the demonstrations of mathematics problems, or seen someone acting bravely in a fearful situation. Aggression can be learned through models. Much research indicate that children become more aggressive when they observed aggressive or violent models. Moral thinking and moral behavior are influenced by observation and modeling. This includes moral judgments regarding right and wrong which can in part, develop through modeling.

References Grusec, J. E. (1992). Social Learning Theory and Developmental Psychology: The Legacies of Robert Sears and Albert Bandura. Developmental Psychology , 28 (5), 776-786. Ormrod, J. (1999). Human Learning: Social Learning Theory (Third ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Social Learning Theory: Bandura. (2010, March). Retrieved March 28, 2010, from Learning Theories: http://www.learning-theories.com/social-learning- theory-bandura.html Using social learning theory to explain individual differences in human sexuality : The Use of Theory in Research and Scholarship on Sexuality. (2010). Retrieved March 28, 2010, from Health Care Industry: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2372/is_n1_v35/ ai_20746724/

References Hamilton, S. (2008). Research-based outreach: Albert Bandura’s Model. Journal of Extension, 46 (1).

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Do you think violent video games and television influence children’s behavior?