View of Learning
Here is a comprehensive set of objectives for Bandura along with points based on these objectives:
1. Describe how Bandura differs from behavioral theory.
Bandura's work extends beyond traditional behavioral theory in that he believes that learning and behavioral change can happen without directly reinforcement of a person. Bandura also posits certain internal factors as influencing behavior, something that a strict behaviorist would never do. Part of Bandura's theory is based on modeling in which a person learns simply through observation of another person rather than through directly responding and being reinforced for that response.
2. Identify Bandura's objections to behaviorism.
Bandura does not believe behaviorism goes far enough in accounting for learning. Specifically, Bandura believes that we learned a lot of our behavior through imitating the behaviors of others that we observe, not through direct action and reinforcement. Bandura believes that certain internal states such as our degree of motivation and our self-efficacy influence our behavior, something that behaviorists do not account for. Simply put, behaviorism does not go far enough in explaining our behavior and takes a limited view that completely discounts any role of the individual in governing or regulating his or her own behavior.
3. Describe reciprocal determinism.
Reciprocal determinism is Bandura's term for describing the relationships among the person, his environment and his behavior. In his view a person's behavior is to some extent a function of his environment as well as a function of him as a person. Likewise the person's environment is shaped and determined at least in part by his behavior and certain believes he holds about the environment. This is to say that our behavior, our environments, as well as the beliefs and ideas we hold our determined by and shape each other. This is a reciprocal determinism, not a one-way path.
4. Describe vicarious, or observational, learning.
For Bandura we learn not only through direct action on our environment and the reinforcements that result but also from vicarious or observational learning. That is, we can learn a new behavior simply through observing someone else performing that behavior not only through having to respond and be reinforced for that particular behavior ourself. This vicarious or observation learning stands in direct conflict with the beliefs of behaviorism. In vicarious learning we see someone else perform a behavior and noticed that he or she is rewarded for doing so. That active observation of another person performing a behavior and being rewarded for it increases the probability that we will engage in that behavior. In a sense, we have learned that new behavior without actively participating but rather simply through observing the behavior and its consequence on another person.
5. Describe how the process of watching a model can influence our behavior.
There's several steps in the process of observational learning that must be in place for it to influence the observer and change his behavior. The person being observed, the model, must be a person with whom the observer can readily identify. This can happen if the model is a high-status person such as a celebrity, sports star, or someone held in high regard. That's why you often see these people in advertisements on television endorsing the product because their endorsement influences us. Seeing an outstanding athlete like Michael Jordan in his prime wearing a particular shoe or drinking a particular sports drink has a great influence on us. Observing what he does and knowing the success that has followed him increases the probability that we will make the decision to wear the same shoes and drink the same drinks. People who have a high status and are held in high regard function well as models influencing the behavior of others who copy them. Another type of person also works well as a model. This type of person is represented by the regular guy who lives next door and is just like us. The guy next door does not have the skill, speed, or basketball abilities of Michael Jordan but if we see him wear a particular type of shoe and play well that makes us more likely to buy that shoe. If a person who does not have movie star good looks or figures like those you would see in a magazine but he or she wears a certain type of deodorant or hair spray and everyone seems to fall for them, then we are likely to buy some of that product. Thus, the first step is having a credible model. The second step is that the model makes a specific choice or engages in a specific behavior. The third step is that the model is observed receiving reinforcements for this choice. When the observation process happens like this it is likely to influence our behavior.
6. Describe the four component processes involved in observation learning.
The four component processes involved in observational learning are as follows. 1) att