Final answer:
Bandura's theory did not hold that direct reinforcement is required for learning. His social-cognitive theory emphasizes observational learning, cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, and reciprocal determinism between behavior, cognitive processes, and the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bandura's theory did not hold that direct reinforcement is required for learning. Albert Bandura's social learning theory, also known as the social-cognitive theory, placed a significant emphasis on the role of observed behaviors, cognitions, and environmental factors.
A key aspect of Bandura's theory is observational learning, where individuals learn by watching others and the outcomes of their actions. Bandura recognized the active involvement of learners in their own development and incorporated cognitive aspects such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation into his theory.
Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism highlights the interaction between a person's behavior, cognitive processes, and environmental context.
All three of these elements simultaneously influence each other. Self-efficacy is another cognitive factor featured in Bandura's theory; it describes our confidence in our abilities, shaped through social experiences, and influences the behaviors we choose to imitate and our performance of those behaviors.