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Social Cognitive Learning Approach
Why does the social cognitive learning approach matter?
When you look at this theory, it is instantly familiar because it is so widely used.
You will recognize it in education, social planning, business, counseling, coaching, and many
more disciplines.
It is pragmatic. It allows for many of the nuances, complexities and quirks of real life. It is
comfortablewith both individual freedoms and social constraints and influences. It can be
rigorous, testable and scientific. Yet it is user-friendly enough to slip comfortably into most
pop psychology.
The Social Cognitive Learning Approach is Essentially:
Behavioristic because behavior is learnt, and focuses on observable behavior.
But explains behavior with cognitive psychology (which is unobservable).
Also uses Gestalt psychology: the whole is greater than the parts, emphasis on
perception
And phenomenology (consciousness as experienced subjectively, emphasis on
intention)
3 Main Guys
Julian Rotter
Walter Mischel
Albert Bandura
Julian Rotter: Social learning theory
Son of Jewish immigrant family. Born in New York in 1916, and experienced the Great
Depression.subjective expectations and values matter more than the environment in social learning.
internal or external locus of control
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Albert Bandura: Social Cognitive Learning Theory
small town Canadian farmer’s
sonAcademically highly
acclaimed.
Behavior is the result of interactions
between environment
person
the behavior itself (reciprocal
determinism)Imitation/observational learning
is key
Walter Mischel expanded and developed social cognitive learning
theory
Fled Nazi Austria with his family at the age of
nine.
expanded interactional approach (reciprocal
determinism)
role of expectations and self control
Unisa Assignment 1: Guess
first… 5 questions
QUESTION 6
Which of the following statements concerning observational learning is incorrect?
1) The imitation of behaviour is determined by the consequences of the model’s behaviour,
and the observer’s cognitive processes.
2) Behaviour is acquired when the observer observes the model’s behaviour and regards the
results ofthat behaviour positively.
3) Observational learning entails vicarious reinforcement, which means that the observer’s
responsesare positively reinforced.
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4) Learning takes place through active elimination or weakening of undesirable behaviour by
means ofaversive counter-conditioning
QUESTION 7
Boitumelo has just been informed about the death of her sister. Immediately after that, she is
called tothe office by her manager, who knows nothing about her situation. Her manager
informs her that she has been promoted to a senior position (that she has been looking forward
to for many years but couldnot be promoted due to limited opportunities for upward mobility in
her firm). To her manager’s surprise, Boitumelo shows no signs of excitement but instead just
shakes her manager’s hand, thankshim and leaves the office.
In terms of the social cognitive learning theory, reciprocal determinism is clearly indicated
in thisstory. This means that
(1) regardless of the situation, people show a set pattern of individual differences.
(2) all behaviour and learning can be explained without any reference to needs or
consciousexperiences.
(3) there is an interaction between the person, the situation and the person’s behaviour
(4) differences in behaviour are chiefly or exclusively attributed to the influence of the situation
Question 8
Simon belittles his wife, Kim, in front of their friends. Instead of the support that Simon
expects from themen, they side with his wife instead, and Simon feels rather embarrassed at his
behaviour. Barry, who witnesses this, decides never to humiliate his wife in front of others. In
terms of social cognitive learning theory, Barry’s decision is an example of .
(1) imitation.
(2) counter-imitation
(3) modelling
(4) punishment.
QUESTION 9
According to the social cognitive learning approach, an optimally developed person is someone who
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