Social Cognitive Social Cognitive Learning TheoryLearning Theory

What factors influence learning?

• Environmental– Friends

• Cognitive– examples

General Principles• Learning occurs from watching others • Learning can occur without a change in

behavior (Observation without imitation)

• Consequences of behavior play a role in learning

• Cognition plays a role in learning

Social Cognitive Perspective on Reinforcement and

Punishment• As with behaviorism, R & P are

environmental factors that shape behavior

• Behavior is learned through observation & then expressed (imitated) through modeling

Cognitive Factors• Cognitive processing (thinking) is

occurring during learning– Attention to actions– Mental rehearsal of actions– Develop verbal and visual

representations of actions

Cognitive Factors (cont.)• Expectations

– About outcomes of the behavior– About ability to perform successfully (self-

efficacy beliefs)• Awareness of Contingencies

– Realization that the behavior is related to certain punishment OR reinforcement. Leads to increase of decrease in frequency in behavior

Cognitive Factors (cont.)Self-Efficacy Beliefs

• Beliefs about one’s ability or capacity to execute a behavior successfully

• Influences several aspects of behavior, including– Choice of activities– Goals– Effort and persistence– Learning and achievement

Observational Observational Learning Or ModelingLearning Or Modeling

Learning that occurs through Learning that occurs through watching the behavior of otherswatching the behavior of others

R & P & Modeling• Observer reinforced by model• Observer reinforced by 3rd person• Imitation or modeling itself leads

to reinforcement• What happens to the model

affects observer’s behavior (vicarious consequences)

What’s going on here?

The Effects of Modeling on the Observer

• Teaches new behaviors• Influences frequency of previously

learned behaviors• Increases the frequency of similar

behaviors• Encourage previously forbidden

behaviors

Characteristics of Effective Models

• The model – Is competent– Has prestige and power– Behaves in ways that are consistent

with the observer’s gender identification– Exhibits behavior relevant to the

observer’s situation

Your Turn: Dangerous Minds

Videoclip

• Look for Models

– What characteristics do they have?– Look for reinforcers for the models

AND for the observers