Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory – Behavioral sciences explore the cognitive processes within organisms and the behavioral interactions between organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through the study of the past, controlled and naturalistic observation of the present and disciplined scientific experimentation and modeling.
It attempts to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation. Generally, behavior science deals primarily with human action and often seeks to generalize about human behavior as it relates to society.
Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory
Just as Tolman believed that rats gather information and form cognitive maps about their environments through exploring, Bandura believes that humans gather information about their environments and behavior of others through observation.
Social cognitive learning results from watching, imitating and modeling and does not require the observer to perform any observable behavior or receive any observable reward.
Social cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of observation, imitation and self-reward in the development and learning of social skills, personal interactions and many other behaviors.
Unlike operant and classical conditioning, this theory says that it is not necessary to perform any observable behavior or receive any external rewards to learn.
Bandura believes that four processes attention, memory, imitation and motivation-operate during social cognitive learning.
Social Learning: Albert Bandura (Principle of limitation)
There are many forms of learning which cannot be explained by conditioning, we also learn through observation. Albert Bandura and Richard Walters (1963) focused on the highly efficient from of learning known as observational learning or imitation. Imitation is defined as a response that is like the stimulus triggering the response; a person or animal watches or hears another do or say something; then responds in the same way.
Bandura maintains that nearly all learning that can take place directly through instrument learning procedure can also take place through imitation. Many of the nursing skills like giving an injection, making bed or dressing of a wound are learned by observing the senior students perform the same.
Even maladaptive behaviors like aggression is learned by observation. Television can have good as well as bad effects. It can enhance prosocial behavior through positive observational learning. Modeling is often the most efficient means of learning complex skills. It is also a valuable therapeutic too especially witho phobias.
There are two ways that observational learning help people acquire new behavior. Firstly, it provides information on the how of the behavior; the specific steps by which others are able to perform it. Secondly, it gives evidence of the “doableness” of the behavior; the fact that can do it helps demystify the behavior, makes it less frightening, and encourages the belief that I too can do it.
Applications of Social Learning Theory to Nurse Education
The new nursing student must start her professional role and this can be developed by allowing the student to observe a prestigious staff nurse going about her daily work. The student will observe not only clinical skills but also interactions with patients and other members of the healthcare team, thus learning professional attitudes as well as techniques.
The nurse teacher must also act as a professional model when she is with the students, showing enthusiasm about nursing and the ability to do the job skillfully. It is a useful idea when working with student groups to pair the students, so that the weaker ones are working with the more able students and learning by observation.
Other uses of the social learning theory are:
- Both children and adults learn a great deal through observation and imitation. Young children learn language, social skills, habits, fears and many other every day behaviors by observing their parents and other children.
- Many people learn academic, athletic and musical skills by observing and then imitating a teacher.
- It has an important role in a child’s personality development.
- Fearful children become less fearful when they watch other children acting fearlessly in the same situation.
- Demonstrating a fearless approach to a phobic situation may be useful to motivate a patient’s approach to the feared object or situation.
- Modeling is also used in weight reduction and smoking cessation, programs
Humanistic Learning Theory by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers:
Humanistic theory is concerned with human growth, individual fulfilment and self-actualization. It is student centered learning. Learner is believed to be self-motivated, self-initiated and self- evaluated. Each individual is viewed as a unique composite of biologic, psychologic, social, cultural and spiritual factors.
Learning focus on self-development and achieving full potential. It is best when it is relevant to the learner. Autonomy and self-determination are important the learner identifies the learning needs and takes the initiative to meet these needs. The learner is thus an active participant and takes responsibility for meeting individual learning needs.
But the theory lacks empirical evidence to support its assumptions. In addition, there is the concern that this approach may lead to the teacher becoming an amateur physiotherapist.
Transfer of Learning:
Transfer of learning or training occurs when learning of one set of material influences the learning of another set of material later. For example, driving a new car. The movements and responses in driving a new car will have similarities and differences when compared to movements and responses in driving the old car. The individual has to adapt his old habits and learn new ones.
Theories of Transfer of Learning
A. Theory of Identical Elements or Components:
As per Thorndike, the transfer of learning from one situation to another is possible because of identical common elements. For example, in learning cycling and driving a car, the transfer takes place because of the common elements like stearing movements, knowledge of the rules of the road and looking ahead. In learning typewriting and piano the transfer takes place on account of the presence of common elements like the use of both hands required for pressing the keys and eye hand coordination.
B. Theory of Generalization by Charles Judd
As a result of certain experiences, an individual may arrive at conclusions which are transferred between two situations. Examples of conclusions transferred as ‘If we touch fire, we will get burnt” “unripe fruits are sour”.
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