Social learning theory

Social learning theory is closely associated with the prominent theorist Albert Bandura. Bandura illustrated that much learning occurs through the observation and imitation of models and that it can be maintained through reinforcement. This means that instruction can be made more efficient by modelling desired behaviours of functional value to learners and by providing situations that allow them to use or practise those behaviours to improve their retention.

While social learning theory has its roots in behaviourism, Bandura found that a simple focus on stimulus and response was too simplistic to explain the complexity of human thought and behaviour. He recognised that the social context of learning is important and that individuals influence their environment as well as being moulded by it. Over thirty years of research, he also became increasingly aware of the role of cognition in learning, understanding that people’s cognitive processes allow them to, for example, pay attention to models, use symbols to stand in for a model’s behaviour, and mentally organise and reorganise information. This means that his theories also belong in the constructivist learning category described below. These ideas are reflected in the concept of reciprocal determinism, which suggests that learning results from the interaction between three factors:

Personal factors include beliefs and attitudes that affect learning, especially in response to behavioral and environmental stimuli. Behavioral factors include the responses one makes in a given situation – for example, whether one responds to a poor test score with anger or with increased effort. Environmental factors include the role played by parents, teachers, and peers.

Bruning et al., 1999, page 129

Another important concept developed by Bandura and his fellow social learning theorists is that of self-efficacy. This suggests that people are more likely to engage in certain behaviours when they believe they are capable of executing those behaviours successfully. Self-efficacy is closely linked with initial task engagement, persistence, and successful performance.

Return to top