Social Behavior Theory
Introduction
Social behavior theory that was proposed by Bandura Albert has grown to be the most influential concept in regard to development and learning. The theory is grounded on different basic traditional concepts of learning since Bandura held the belief that straight reinforcement would not consider all the types of learning. The theory is widely identified as an observational model that is utilized in the description of different human behaviors. The theory has an added social component that argues that individuals can learn fresh behaviors and information by simply watching others (Akers, 2009). The theory has been transformed into social learning rather than social behavior in the modern era. Based on SLT, people can learn behaviors via the observation of attitudes, outcomes as well as behaviors. Precisely, the theory provides explanations regarding human conduct in regard to continuous and mutual interactions amid behavioral, cognitive and environmental influences.
Historical Background
Before the year 1960, the existing published theories regarding learning were mainly influenced by the assumptions of operant, psychoanalytic and classic conditioning conceptual drives. The verabal behavior book of B.F Skinner was published in the year 1959 a critique by Chomsky Noam (Parrish, 2014). The criticism made the claim that direct stimulated behavioral theories failed to consider the procedures of acquiring language and this specific argument made significant contributions to the cognitive revolution of psychology.
With the particular context, Bandura Albert studied the process of learning that took place in interpersonal context of learning and held no adequate explanations of the general concepts in regard to social learning for example Julian Rotter’s work (Akers, 2009). In particular, Bandura made the argument that learning approaches weaknesses that mainly discounts social variables contribution were not soundly and accurately presented in the concepts of novel responses acquisitions. Fresh responses acquisitions according to Skinner were based on the successive approximation process which necessitated various trials, behavioral elements strengthening and gradual transformation. The theory by Rotter therefore, made the proposal the occurring likelihood of a certain human behavior was the responsibility of subjective expectation and reinforcement value (Akers, 2009). The approach was an assumption of the existing responses hierarchy and therefore according to Bandura thus did not make any account on the particular responses which had not been acquired yet. Rapid acquisition study of novel conducts through human social observation was started at the moment by Bandura the famous one being the experiments that were being conducted on Bobo dolls. This developed the conclusion that individuals are capable of learning different behaviors through direct and mutual observation on others with the origination of SLT being based in 1977 (Akers, 2009).
Theorist
Bandura Albert was born in the year 1925 on the 4th of December (Akers, 2009). He can best be described as an influential psychologist who for the last six full decades has been involved in high contributions to the education field as well as psychological fields that involves therapy, social cognitive as well as personality psychology (Schelbe, & Geiger, 2017). His influence can additionally be traced from cognitive and behaviorism transition. He is popular for being the founder of the theory of social learning and the theoretical development of self efficacy who is additionally responsible for the popular and influential experiment developed in 1961 referred to as Bobo doll (Schelbe, & Geiger, 2017).
Initially Bandura was influenced by the work of Robert Sea on social behavior familial antecedents as well as learning identification (Schelbe, & Geiger, 2017). His first research was particularly dedicated to social reproduction in the context of actions, thoughts as well as human motivation. Alongside with his colleague and his first student in the doctoral level Richard Walters he got into the learning of aggression and social learning. The research first phase was involved in the analyzing of human learning foundations as well as the willingness of adults as well as children in imitating the conducts that they observe from others and particularly aggression (Schelbe, & Geiger, 2017).
Social Work Knowledge Base
In all the fields social workers are faced with different difficulties and challenges that arrives with trials of understanding the general behaviors of human (Vito, 2006). The ability to obtain the knowledge can be categorized as a complex and multi layered procedure that requires social workers to utilize different theories in getting positive effects for the consumers one being the theory of social learning. A social worker with increased knowledge that relates to social learning is able to comprehensively utilize the developed models in resolving behavioral conflicts despite the setting. Despite the specialty in social work problems and conflicts faced in social working are developed by problematic behavioral and social strengthening. For instance the theory can be utilized in schools in understanding issues of bullying, substance abuse, violence, school attendance, poor performance, student socialization and psychological issues. the above mentioned issues can be developed by scenarios which are best demonstrated by SLT (Vito, 2006).
A consideration of social working in a school setting can be utilized in understanding problems that relates to aggressive conduct that negatively impacts the capability of students to learn (Vito, 2006). SLT can therefore , be applied by in social work in evaluating role approaches and the incentive in which the students are exposed to regularly in that it would be the strengthening of aggression, disruptive conduct and a discourager of positivity (Nicolson, 2014). After the identification of the primary cause of the negative conduct SLT can be utilized by the social worker in the identification of dysfunctional thoughts pattern as that influences the behaviors and emotions of the students (Vito, 2006). Via the utilization of therapy gradual approaches like positive approaches, stress management and systematic desensitization new conducts can be attained . This can be accomplished by transforming the desirable or negative strengthening that is directly related with the incentive at the base of the issue (Weiner, Millon & Lerner, 2003).
Description of the Theory
SLT is the perspective that individual acquires learning by making mutual observations on others. The theory makes an explanation that acquiring fresh behaviors, attitudes and values can be based on observation. Social learning therefore necessitates a high degree of concentration to the individual being observed, a remembrance of the behavior that was observed, the capability of replicating the conduct and the general motivation of acting in a similar manner. The theory makes the claim that individuals acquires learning from someone else through observing, developing some imitations as well as modeling. The theory covers the gap that lies amid cognitive and behaviorist learning concepts since it covers memory, motivation as well as attention (Newman, & Newman, 2012).
Individuals acquire learning via direct observation of other person’s outcomes, behaviors and attitudes (Krohn, Lizotte, & Hall, 2009). This is to state that most behaviors that are depicted by humans are obtained from observing others. In that from an observation on other people , one is able to develop thoughts on how fresh ideas can be obtained and later the acquired information is utilized as a guide in performing the actual actions (Krohn, Lizotte, & Hall, 2009). SLT makes an explanation of human conduct in regard to mutual and consistent association amid behavioral, environmental and cognitive influences. The theory is grounded on four principles which are attention, motivation, reproduction and retention. According to Bandura, reciprocal determinism which is the surrounded as well as the general behavior cause of an individual to the other. Bandura made the claim that personality is developed from the incorporation of behavior, environment and an individual’s psychological procedures which is the general capability of entertaining visuals in language and minds (Hepworth, 2010).
Based on the attention principle different factors decreases or rises the degree of attention that is paid. This includes prevalence, distinctiveness, complexity, functional value and affective valence. This implies that an individual may not acquire any learning if they are not alert on the specific task (Greene, 2008). Observation of uniqueness gathers an individual’s attention which is reinforced by social context. The ability to recall the concept that was being observed is explained by retention which may involve symbolic coding, mental visuals, cognitive arrangement and motor rehearsal. Through the internalization of the stored data in the memory the information can be regained in responding to similar situations that surrounds the information that was learned. In the context of reproduction, individuals will obviously reproduce the information that was acquired before such as knowledge, skills as well as behaviors. However, the general practice via physical and mental exercise normally develops responses. This is the sector where images are reproduced that incorporates physical abilities as well as self observations. Motivation implies to holding a viable rationale of imitating which may be motivated by the past, vicarious and the promised (Haffer, 2009).
Major Terms
The major terms regarding the theory of social behavior are reciprocal modeling, retention, attention, reproduction and motivation. In that in order for an individual to acquire any form of social behavior they must make mutual observation on the desired activity, value, attitude or even behavior which is regarded as the reciprocal determinant (Engler, 2008). In addition focus or attention is required while observing so that vivid images can be developed regarding the conduct. The ability to continuously recall the information when required in similar situation is called reproduction which cannot be attained without being focused. In addition retention is the general capability held by an individual in retaining the information that they were able to acquire and regain it when it is needed. Motivation is the justifiable rationale behind the general desire to imitate or rather copy (Gambrill, 2006).
Major Assumptions
Social behavior is a theory that is grounded on a variety of assumptions. First, individuals are able to acquire learning on making observations on others outcomes as well as behaviors (Carducci, 2006). Learning can take place even without the transformation of behavior and cognitive plays a significant role in it. In addition the theory states that individuals have the ability to control their surrounding and actions. This is accomplished through self regulation and human’s nature can be regarded as social and thus and this means that people are active in imitating experiences (Brandell, 2011).
Conclusion
The theory of social learning can be categorized as the study of persons, conducts and the surrounding which are directly related. It can be established that the theory of social behavior is more comprehensive as compared to the behaviorist perspective. Individuals make effective learning through reciprocal observation by attention, retention, motivation as well as reproduction. This implies that in order for social learning to occur one must be able to observe attentively, recall the information, utilize it when needed and have a solid motivation.
References
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