MPCL_007 practical file activity 1, Lab Reports of Psychology

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Activity - 1 Title: Social Learning Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. Aim: To understand the difference between social learning theory and social cognitive theory and the applications of social learning theory. Introduction: Learning Definition - The process of learning is continuous which starts right from the time of birth of an individual and continues till the death. Psychologists in general define ” Learning as relatively permanent behavioural modifications which take place as a result of experience”. This definition of learning stresses on three important elements of learning:  Learning involves a behavioural change which can be better or worse.  This behavioural change should take place as a result of practice and experience. Changes resulting from maturity or growth cannot be considered as learning  This behavioural change must be relatively permanent and last for a relatively long time enough. Types of learning- i. Motor Learning : Our day to day activities like walking, running, driving, etc, must be learnt for ensuring a good life. These activities to a great extent involve muscular coordination. ii. Verbal Learning : It is related with the language which we use to communicate and various other forms of verbal communication such as symbols, words, languages, sounds, figures and signs. iii. Concept Learning : This form of learning is associated with higher order cognitive processes like intelligence, thinking, reasoning, etc, which we learn right from our childhood. Concept learning involves the processes of abstraction and generalization, which is very useful for identifying or recognizing things. iv. Discrimination Learning : Learning which distinguishes between various stimuli with its appropriate and different responses is regarded as discrimination stimuli. v. Learning of Principles : Learning which is based on principles helps in managing the work most effectively. Principles based learning explains the relationship between various concepts. vi. Attitude Learning : Attitude shapes our behaviour to a very great extent, as our positive or negative behaviour is based on our attitudinal predisposition. The behavioural psychology described three types of learning: Classical Conditioning, Observational Learning and Operant Conditioning. Classical Conditioning : In case of Classical Conditioning, the process of learning is described as a Stimulus-Response connection or association. Classical Conditioning theory has been explained with the help of Pavlov’s Classic Experiment, in which the food was used as the natural stimulus which was paired with the previously neutral stimuli that’s a bell in this case. By establishing an association between the natural stimulus (food) and the neutral stimuli (sound of the bell), the desired response can be elicited. This theory will be discussed in detail in the next few articles. Operant Conditioning : Propounded by scholars like Edward Thorndike firstly and later by B.F. Skinner, this theory stresses on the fact that the consequences of actions shape the behaviour. The theory explains that the intensity of a response is either increased or decreased as a result of punishment or reinforcement. Skinner

explained how with the help of reinforcement one can strengthen behaviour and with punishment reduce or curb behaviour. It was also analyzed that the behavioural change strongly depends on the schedules of reinforcement with focus on timing and rate of reinforcement. Observational Learning : The Observational Learning process was propounded by Albert Bandura in his Social Learning Theory, which focused on learning by imitation or observing people’s behaviour. For observational learning to take place effectively, four important elements will be essential: Motivation, Attention, Retention, Reproduction. Different types of observational learning – Social cognitive theory and social learning theory are theories that try to explain learning in the social context, with the main position being that people acquire new behaviours by observation. The two theories focus solely on behaviour, in terms of what can be learned, setting aside other things such as knowledge or cognitive skills. The word ‘social’ refers to the influence of social interactions on how we acquire new behaviours which may not necessarily be social in nature, and how we perpetuate them. Both of these theories are rooted in behaviourist traditions in that focus on learned behaviour and excluding thought and emotion. Still, both theories do acknowledge the cognitive processes that play a role in learning and behaviour.

1. Social Learning Theory: Social learning theory is a cognitive-behavioural theory of learning which proposes that we acquire new behaviours simply by observing it along with its consequences. Although Bandura is credited with most of this body of knowledge, the entirety of social learning theory is a collective work from different people. The theory traces its roots to a combination of psychoanalytic and behaviourist concepts. In 1941, Neil Miller and John Dollard published a book called Social Learning Theory. In it they proposed that biological drives acts as stimulus for behaviour which is in turn reinforced by social interaction. In 1954, Julian B. Rotter also published his book Social Learning and Clinical Psychology. Rotter theorizes that the emergence of novel behaviour is a function of expectancy of a positive outcome and the behaviour is reinforced by positive outcomes. Sociology also has its take on social learning theory. Edwin Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory was integrated into operant conditioning and social learning by criminologists Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers and they developed a comprehensive theory on how criminal behaviour is learned. Throughout all this, cognitive perspectives maintain that a lot of novel behaviour is acquired and reproduced even without repetition and reinforcement. It was in this state of the social learning theory that Bandura conducted research on how novel behaviour is acquired in the social context. Through his famous Bobo Doll Experiments Bandura came to the conclusions that are now basically the core concepts of modern social learning theory.  First, learning occurs by observing the behaviour of a model, which includes extracting information about the observation and deciding on performing the behaviour (modelling or observational learning).  Second, behaviour can be reinforced by observing the consequences that happen to the model after the behaviour was performed (vicarious reinforcement).  Third, observation is a cognitive skill hence learning is a cognitive- behavioural process.  Lastly, a learner observes and copies the model that he or she sees the most similarity with or has the most emotional attachment with (identification).

2. Social Cognitive Theory: The social cognitive theory is a learning theory which states that people acquire new behaviours by observing a model, and that personal (or cognitive) factors, the behaviour itself and the environment (in the form of reinforcements) are engaged in a triadic feedback relationship, called reciprocal determinism, which influences the reproduction of the learned behaviour. This theory was proposed by Albert Bandura officially in his 1986 book, Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory, and is an expansion of his take on social learning theory. He called it social cognitive theory to emphasize the role of cognitive factors (encapsulated under the personal factors) in the process of learning as well as to differentiate it from other social learning theories. With social cognitive theory, Bandura broadens his social learning theory by starting with a conceptualization of humanity as having agency and capability, that is, humans are not just shaped by their environments and inner forces but also shape their environment and can regulate those inner forces. He maintains his major contributions to social learning theory, such as modelling, identification, and direct and vicarious reinforcement. He expands observational learning by adding onto it four cognitive processes that mediate learning, namely attention, retention, production and motivation. Finally, he adds the concept of self-efficacy , the personal belief in one’s own capability to plan and act accordingly in response to foreseeable situations. **Responses for the questions:

1. Difference between social learning theory and social cognitive theory. Definition:** Social cognitive theory is the expanded form of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory which states that learning can occur by observing a behaviour and that the manifestation of that behaviour in the learner is regulated by the triadic reciprocal determinism between personal (cognitive) factors, the behaviour itself, and by the environment (reinforcement). Meanwhile, social learning theory is a learning theory that proposes that learning occurs in a social context by means of observation of the behaviour and the consequences that follow it. Proponent/s: Social cognitive theory was proposed by Albert Bandura alone. Social learning theory is a collective work, with the most contribution coming from Bandura but with earlier contributions from Neil Miller and John Dollard, Julian Rotter, and Robert Burgess and Ronald Akers, as well as an influence from cognitive perspectives on learning. Core concepts: Core concepts in the social cognitive theory are human agency, observational learning and its four meditational processes (attention, retention, production, motivation), triadic reciprocal determinism between cognitive, behavioural and environment factors, and self-efficacy. In social learning theory, the core concepts are observational learning, reinforcement (direct or vicarious), learning as a cognitive- behavioural process, and identification with a model.

Role of cognitive factors: In the social cognitive theory, cognitive factors play an important and equal role with environmental factors in the acquisition of new behaviour and in its production. In social learning theory, the cognitive factors are only acknowledged to play a role in the acquisition of new behaviour but not much or none at all in its production. Role of reinforcement: In the social cognitive theory, reinforcement or environmental factors has an equal role with cognitive factors in the learning and production of behaviour. In social learning theory, consequences and reinforcement play a major role in the acquisition and production of behaviour. Scope: Social cognitive theory has a broader theoretical scope as it includes a conceptualization of humans as agents capable of shaping their environment and of self-regulation. Social learning theory on the other hand is limited to tackling the learning process in the social context.

Social cognitive theory vs Social learning theory

2. Applications of Social Learning Theory : a. Criminology- Social learning theory has been used to explain the emergence and maintenance of deviant behaviour, especially aggression. b. Developmental psychology- In her book Theories of Developmental Psychology , Patricia H. Miller lists both moral development and gender-role development as important areas of research within social learning theory. Social learning theorists emphasize observable behaviour regarding the acquisition of these two skills. c. Management- Social learning theory proposes that rewards aren't the sole force behind creating motivation. Thoughts, beliefs, morals, and feedback all help to motivate us. Three other ways in which we learn are vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and

physiological states. Modelling, or the scenario in which we see someone's behaviours and adopt them as our own, aide the learning process as well as mental states and the cognitive process. d. Media violence- Principles of social learning theory have been applied extensively to the study of media violence. Akers and Burgess hypothesized that observed or experienced positive rewards and lack of punishment for aggressive behaviours reinforces aggression. Many research studies and meta-analyses have discovered significant correlations between viewing violent television and aggression later in life and many have not, as well as playing violent video games and aggressive behaviours. The role of observational learning has also been cited as an important factor in the rise of rating systems for TV, movies, and video games. e. Creating social change with media- Entertainment-education in the form of a telenovela or soap opera can help viewers learn socially desired behaviours in a positive way from models portrayed in these programs. The telenovela format allows the creators to incorporate elements that can bring a desired response. These elements may include music, actors, melodrama, props or costumes. Entertainment education is symbolic modelling and has a formula with three sets of characters with the cultural value that is to be examined is determined ahead of time: i. Characters that support a value (positive role models) ii. Characters who reject the value (negative role models) iii. Characters who have doubts about the value (undecided) f. Applications for Social Change - Through observational learning a model can bring forth new ways of thinking and behaving. With a modeled emotional experience, the observer shows an affinity toward people, places and objects. They dislike what the models do not like and like what the models care about. Television helps contribute to how viewers see their social reality. Media representations gain influence because people's social constructions of reality depend heavily on what they see, hear and read rather than what they experience directly. Any effort to change beliefs must be directed toward the sociocultural norms and practices at the social system level. g. Psychotherapy - Another important application of social learning theory has been in the treatment and conceptualization of anxiety disorders.

3. Based on the theory and its application, do you think violence is contagious?

I am in assertion with the statement that violence is contagious. The key aspect to any learning theory is imitation. According to social learning theory, people learn aggressive and violent behaviours the same way they learn other social behaviour i.e., by direct experience and by observing others and imitating their behaviour. According to social cognitive theory, observers do not simply imitate the specific social behaviours they witness; they also make cognitive inferences on the basis of these observations, and these inferences lead to generalizations in behaviour. For example in Albert Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment, the children imitated the behaviour of the model. The model was hitting the doll with hammer, kicking the doll and was using abusive words, the children were observing the model. It was seen that the children behaved in the same manner as the model with the doll. From this experiment we can conclude that the violent behaviour of the model was imitated by the children and hence, it can be said that “violence is contagious”. Another example of violent behaviour in a person could be seen because of the social media that is watching movies which comprise of violence scenes and playing violent games such as PUBG. Here also the person observes and tries to imitate whatever he has seen and hence we can say that “violence is contagious”. Conclusion: From the above activity we can conclude that Social cognitive theory of Bandura is based on the idea that people learn by watching what others do and that human thought processes are central to understanding personality. Social cognitive theory approaches the explanation of behaviour in terms of a continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioural, and environmental determinants. It identifies human behaviour as an interaction of personal factors, behaviour, and the environment. These three segments are mutually interactive. References: Books IGNOU self-learning material Handbook on practicum IGNOU Websites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0iWpSNu3NU (accessed on 15.3.2021) https://www.managementstudyguide.com/learning-theories-classical-conditioning- operant-conditioning-and-learning-by-observation.htm (accessed on 15.3.2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5227928/(accessed on 15.3.2021) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_theory#Applications(accessed on 15.3.2021)