Final answer:
Albert Bandura's social-cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of observational learning in personality development, highlighting the role of cognitive processes and introducing the concepts of reciprocal determinism and self-efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Albert Bandura's theory is vital in understanding the complex process of learning. Observational learning, or the concept of learning by watching others, is a cornerstone of Bandura's social-cognitive theory. Bandura proposed that this form of learning is not merely imitation but involves several critical steps including attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
In his view, cognitive processes, such as thinking and reasoning, play a significant role in learning, making it clear that internal mental states are influential as well. This insight into learning extends to personality development, introducing concepts such as reciprocal determinism and self-efficacy which suggest that confidence in one's abilities, shaped by social interactions, affects how we approach challenges and imitate behaviors.