Final answer:
It is true that Bandura and Walters claimed traditional learning theory did not fully acknowledge observational learning's role in human development. Observational learning involves mimicking behavior after observing others, and is a key element in the acquisition of new behaviors and personality development according to Bandura's theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that Bandura and his colleague, Walters, argued that traditional learning theory was incomplete because it neglected the role of observational learning. Observational learning involves watching others and then imitating or modeling their behavior. This form of learning is different from classical and operant conditioning because it does not require direct reinforcement to occur. Bandura believed that internal states, which include cognitive processes, play an essential role in learning and that people can learn through observation without necessarily receiving any immediate external rewards or punishment.
Through observational learning, individuals acquire new behaviors by paying attention to a model and then retaining, reproducing, and being motivated to imitate the observed actions. This approach has been shown to influence personality development, as we learn not only individual behaviors but also broader behavior patterns that are deemed acceptable or rewarded within a culture. Bandura suggested that our behavior, cognitive processes, and the context in which we exist are all components of a system of reciprocal determinism that interact with one another.