In the social learning system, new patterns of be havior can be acquired through direct experience or by observing the behavior of others. The more rudi mentary form of learning, rooted in direct experi ence, is largely governed by the rewa rding and punishing consequences that follow any given action. People are repeatedy confronted with situations with which they must deal in one way or another. Some of the responses that they try prove unsuccessful , while others produce more favorable eff ects. Through this process of diff erential reinforcement successful modes of behavior are eventually selected from exploratory activities , while ineffectual ones are discarded.