Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory states that people learn from the behavior of others and internalize it as their own (Baron & Byrne, 2017). Through observing how others act or behave, individuals are able to acquire new behaviors which can then be reinforced through reward or punishment. This theory is particularly relevant in regards to positive behaviors since those who observe more positive behavior tend to imitate those actions more often than negative ones (Baron & Byrne, 2017). One example of a behavior I have modeled after observing someone else is cooking. My father was an excellent cook who enjoyed making meals for our family every night with fresh ingredients and unique recipes. By watching him in the kitchen and learning his various techniques, I started to gain confidence in my own cooking abilities which eventually led me to start experimenting with different dishes on my own. Additionally, by having my father provide verbal encouragement while I cooked allowed me to view this particular activity as something enjoyable rather than challenging; thus reinforcing my desire to continue practicing this skill (Bandura, 1977). Another behavior that I acquired through social learning was taking pride in my academic performance. As a child, my parents were always open about their educational backgrounds and the importance of doing well in school. They provided both emotional support when needed but also held me accountable for any bad grades or missed assignments; creating expectations for how I should conduct myself academically but at the same time also showing their faith in me that I could meet these expectations (Bandura, 1977). Thus, through modeling their committed attitude towards education and utilizing rewards like praise whenever appropriate, helped shape my current work ethic when it comes to academics.