Final answer:
Social learning theory, developed by Albert Bandura, explains how individuals learn through observational learning, which involves observing and imitating others' behaviors and understanding the consequences of those behaviors. It incorporates the concepts of reciprocal determinism and cognition, considering both external and internal factors in the learning process, unlike strict behaviorism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Learning Theory:
The social learning theory is a concept developed by psychologist Albert Bandura, which suggests that people can learn new behaviors through the process of observational learning. This involves watching others and then imitating what they do or say. One of Bandura's main ideas is that learning is vicarious; we observe someone else's behavior and its consequences to understand which behaviors are acceptable and which are punished in a specific cultural context.
Bandura also introduced the concept of reciprocal determinism, which highlights the interactive effects of cognitive processes, behavior, and context on learning. Unlike strict behaviorists who focused solely on external reinforcements and punishments, Bandura considered internal mental states and cognition as fundamental components of learning. This theory also connects with Bandura's broader social-cognitive theory, which emphasizes both learning and cognition as sources of individual differences in personality.
Examples of observational learning include a child learning to tie shoes by watching a parent or learning a dance by watching a performer on television. Bandura believed that observational learning is far more complex than mere imitation, involving attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation steps.