Lesson 10

LESSON 10
SOCIAL LEARNING
THEORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

After going through this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. explain how individuals learn through modeling and imitation;

2. identify the factors that affect observational learning;
3. explain the three major concepts in the social development theory - the Role of Social
Interaction in Cognitive Development, the More Knowledgeable Other and the Zone
of Proximal Development;
4. explicate the important role played by socialization in the learning of a child; and
5. propose ways on how to use social learning theory in the classroom.

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INTRODUCTION

One of the most influential learning theories, the Social Learning Theory (SLT), was
formulated by Albert Bandura. It encompasses concepts of traditional learning theory and the
operant conditioning of B.F. Skinner.

However, the theory strongly implies that there are types of

learning wherein direct reinforcement is not the causal
mechanism; rather, the so called social element can result to the
development of new learning among individuals. Social
Learning Theory has been useful in explaining how people can
learn new things and develop new behaviors by observing other
people. It is to assume, therefore, that Social Learning Theory is
concerned on observational learning process among people.

Albert Bandura

A. Basic Concepts

1. Observational Learning: The Social Learning Theory says that people can learn by
watching other people perform the behavior. Observational learning explains the nature of
children to learn behaviors by watching the behavior of the people around them, and
eventually, imitating them. With the "Bobo Doll" experiment(s), Bandura included an adult
who is tasked to act aggressively toward a Bobo Doll while the children observe him. Later,
Bandura let the children play inside a room with the Bobo Doll. He affirmed that these
children imitated the aggressive behavior toward the doll, which they had observed earlier.

2. After his studies, Bandura was able to determine 3 basic models of observational learning,
which include:

a. A Live Model, which includes an actual person performing a behavior.

b. A Verbal Instruction Model, which involves telling of details and descriptions of a

behavior.

c. A Symbolic Model, which includes either a real or fictional character demonstrating the
behavior via movies, books, television, radio, online media and other media sources.

3. The state of mind (mental states) is crucial to learning. In this concept, Bandura stated that not
only external reinforcement or factors can affect learning and behavior. There is also what he
called intrinsic reinforcement, which is in a form of internal reward or a better feeling after
performing the behavior (e.g. sense of accomplishment, confidence, satisfaction, etc.)

4. Learning does not mean that there will be a change in the behavior of an individual. Bandura
showed that observational learning can occur without the learner demonstrating any new
behavior. In other words, you can observe, imitate, or model something but you might not
learn it. He explored the question of what needs to happen for an observable behavior to be
learned (in addition to observation) and cited four necessary steps: attention, retention,
reproduction, and motivation.

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B. Modeling Process

The Modeling Process developed by Bandura helps us understand that not all observed
behaviors could be learned effectively, nor learning can necessarily result to behavioral changes.
The modeling process includes the following steps in order for us to determine whether social
learning is successful or not:

Step 1: Attention

Social Cognitive Theory implies that you must pay attention for you to learn. If you want
to learn from the behavior of the model (the person that demonstrates the behavior), then you
should eliminate anything that catches your attention other than him. Also, the more interesting
the model is, the more likely you are to pay full attention to him and learn.

Step 2: Retention

Retention of the newly learned behavior is necessary. Without it, learning of the behavior
would not be established, and you might need to get back to observing the model again since you
were not able to store information about the behavior.

Step 3: Reproduction

When you are successful in paying attention, and retaining relevant information, this step
requires you to demonstrate the behavior. In this phase, practice of the behavior by repeatedly
doing it is important for improvement.

Step 4: Motivation

Feeling motivated to repeat the behavior is what you need in order to keep on performing
it. This is where reinforcement and punishment come in. You can be rewarded by demonstrating
the behavior properly, and punished by displaying it inappropriately.

C. Socialize
and Learn

In the social development theory, Lev Vygotsky primarily explains that socialization
affects the learning process in an individual. It tries to explain consciousness or awareness as the
result of socialization. This means that when we talk to our peers or adults, we talk to them for
the sake of communication. After we interact with other people, we tend to internalize what we
uttered.

For example, a child tries to chronologically arrange the blocks that contain the letter A
to Z. At first, his performance is poor but when his mother sits beside him and tells him how to
arrange the letters properly, he begins to learn how to do so. The child will then master the

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knowledge of arranging the alphabet with the presence of his parent. His mother, on the other
hand, gradually lets the child do the skill on his own, making the child more competent.

The Social Development Theory includes three major concepts. These are comprised of
the Role of Social Interaction in Cognitive Development, the More Knowledgeable Other and the
Zone of Proximal Development.

1. Role of Social Interaction in Cognitive Development

The Social Development Theory (SDT) mainly asserts that social interaction has a vital
role in the cognitive development process. With this concept, Vygotsky's theory opposes that of
Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory because Piaget explains that a person undergoes
development first before he achieves learning, whereas Vygotsky argues that social learning
comes first before development. Through the Social Development Theory, Vygotsky states that
the cultural development of a child is firstly on the social level called interpsychological, and
secondly on the individual or personal level called intrapsychological.

2. The More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)

The MKO is any person who has a higher level of ability or understanding than the learner in
terms of the task, process or concept at hand. Normally, when we think of an MKO we refer to
an older adult, a teacher or an expert. For example, a child learns multiplication of numbers
because his tutor teaches him well. The traditional MKO is an older person; however, MKOs
could also refer to our friends, younger people and even electronic devices like computers and
cellphones. For instance, you learn how to skate because your daughter taught you this skill.

3. The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The ZPD is the distance between what is known and what is unknown by the learner. It is the
difference between the ability of learner to performer a specific task under the guidance of his
MKO and the learner`s ability to do that task independently. Basically, the theory explains that
learning occurs in ZPD.

D. Socialization

Socialization is the learning process wherein we develop our personality through

adapting another person`s culture.

Human infants are born without any culture yet. When a baby is born, socialization takes
place in order for him to have a culture based on what his parents and his environment would
teach him. So what exactly is socialization?

Socialization is the process of knowing another person`s culture and learning how to live
within it. When we talk about culture, we are referring to the totality of moral norms, values,
language, attitudes and other aspects comprising a society. All of us have roles to accomplish
within our society, and socialization helps us to harbor knowledge and skills to satisfy these
societal roles.

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a. Importance of Socialization

Socialization is an important part of the process of personality formation in every

individual. It is true that genetics is the reason behind the structure of human personality, but
socialization is the one that causes this personality to be molded to specific directions through
the process of accepting or rejecting beliefs, attitudes and societal norms. Because of the
dynamics in socialization, we tend to have different personalities although we are living in the
same society. For example, the Yanomamo Indians living on the border area between Brazil and
Venezuela tend to train the younger generation of boys to become aggressive and strong. On the
other hand, the Semai tribe living on the central Malay Peninsula in Malaysia does not like
violence and hostility. This is why the younger generation of boys is trained to become gentle
and peace-loving.

b. Types of Socialization

Generally, there are five types of socialization: primary, secondary, developmental,

anticipatory and resocialization.

1. Primary socialization

This type of socialization happens when a child learns the values, norms and behaviors
that should be displayed in order to live accordingly to a specific culture.

Example: A child hears his father talk bad words against an old lady. The child would think that
this behavior is socially acceptable, so he would start talking bad words against older people.

2. Secondary socialization

This type of socialization occurs when a person learns an appropriate behavior to be

displayed within a smaller group which is still part of a larger society. The changes within the
values, attitudes and beliefs of an individual are seen to be less important than the changes made
in him as he participates in the larger society.

Example: A high school graduate chooses a career in Business Management after participating in
a small group career seminar led by college business majors.

3. Developmental socialization

This type of socialization involves a learning process wherein the focus in on developing
our social skills.

Example: A shy senior high school student starts to teach English to new freshmen students in
order to develop verbal communication.

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4. Anticipatory socialization

This type of socialization refers to the process wherein a person practices or rehearses for
future social relationships.

Example: A child anticipates parenthood as he observes his parents perform their daily roles.

5. Resocialization

This type of socialization involves rejecting previous behavior patterns and accepting
new ones so the individual can shift from one part of his life to another. Resocialization is said to
be happening throughout human life cycle.

Example: A new member of a church adopts the new ways and doctrine of that church different
from his/her previous church.

General Principles

1. The highest level of observational learning is achieved by first organizing and rehearsing
the modeled behavior symbolically and then enacting it overtly. Coding modeled
behavior into words, labels or images results in better retention than simply observing.
2. Individuals are more likely to adopt a modeled behavior if it results in outcomes they
value.
3. Individuals are more likely to adopt a modeled behavior if the model is similar to the
observer and has admired status and the behavior has functional value.
4. People can learn by observing the behaviors of others and the outcomes of those
behaviors.
5. Learning can occur without a change in behavior.
6. The consequences of behavior play a role in learning.
7. Cognition plays a role in learning.

How to use Social Learning Theory in the Classroom

 Eliminate distractions.
o Environmental factors can affect the outcome of modeling techniques. Minimize
the effects of competing sensory stimuli that are under your control. You may
want to close classroom doors to lessen auditory interference, for example.

 Present Effective Models

o In order for modeling to be effective, students must first pay close attention to the
model. Models who are attractive, seem competent and prestigious will receive
greater attention than those who do not exhibit these qualities.

 Describe the behaviors and consequences modeled.

o By explaining the behaviors and the consequences, you reinforce the ideas
presented by the model. Telling your students what has happened and why will
help them to retain the lesson.

 Set realistic goals.

o Your students probably will not be able to reproduce a symphony after watching a
master musician. However, observational learning should help them perform
better while learning the basics.

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 Motivate your students.

o Reward your students for reaching the goals you have established. Through
positive reinforcement of the behaviors you want them to develop, you increase
the likelihood that students will perform those actions again.

 Enhance Self-efficacy.
o Once you have allowed your students to reach attainable goals and receive
genuine praise for them, they see themselves as more competent. This confidence
leads them to more successful behavior in the future. As a result of this positive
cycle, your students learn to self-regulate their behavior.

Educational Implications of Social Learning Theory

1. Students often learn a great deal simply by observing other people.

2. Describing the consequences of behaviors can effectively increase appropriate behaviors

and decrease inappropriate ones.

3. Modeling provides an alternative to shaping for teaching new behaviors.

4. Teachers and parents must model appropriate behaviors and take care that they don't
model inappropriate ones.

5. Teachers should expose students to a variety of other models.

6. Students must believe that they are capable of accomplishing school tasks.

7. Teachers should help students set realistic expectations for their academic
accomplishments.

8. Self-regulation techniques provide effective methods for improving behavior.