Final answer:
Albert Bandura's social-cognitive theory emphasizes observational learning and the concept of reciprocal determinism, where behavior, cognitive processes, and situational context influence each other. Self-efficacy, a measure of one's confidence in performing behaviors, also plays a crucial role in the theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Learning Theory and Reciprocal Determinism
The concept of observational learning, proposed by Albert Bandura, is a pivotal aspect of social-cognitive theory. It suggests that individuals can learn new behaviors by observing others without direct reinforcement. This type of learning is central to personality development and incorporates factors such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Moreover, Bandura introduced the idea of reciprocal determinism, which indicates a mutual influence among behavior, cognitive processes, and environmental contexts. Self-efficacy is also a significant element, as it determines our confidence in successfully replicating observed behaviors and contributing to overall learning and personality development.
Beyond mere imitation, observational learning entails complex processes that involve personal factors such as beliefs and expectations when determining which behaviors to model. Children, for example, commonly learn through observing their surroundings and can adopt behaviors based on the actions and consequences they witness among their peers, family, or media influences.