Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory

Definition

Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the reciprocal interaction between cognitive processes, behavior, and the environment. It suggests that individuals learn by observing others and imitating their behaviors.

Theoretical Perspectives

Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the importance of observing, modeling, and imitating behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. It integrates behavioral and cognitive perspectives on learning.

Study And Research Findings

Bandura's 1961 "Bobo Doll" experiment demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviors they have observed in other people. The study highlighted observational learning as a significant aspect of social behavior.

Related terms

Self-efficacy: Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their own ability to accomplish tasks or goals.

Observational learning: Observational learning is the process of acquiring new behaviors or knowledge by watching others.

Reciprocal determinism: Reciprocal determinism refers to the mutual influence between a person's behavior, cognitive processes, and their environment.