Social Cognitive Learning Theory

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Social Cognitive Learning Theory
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What factors influence learning?

• Environmental
• examples
• Cognitive
• examples

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General Principles

• Learning occurs from watching others
• Learning can occur without a change in behavior
  (Observation without imitation)
• Consequences of behavior play a role in learning
• Cognition plays a role in learning

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Social Cognitive Perspective on Reinforcement and
Punishment

• As with behaviorism, R P are environmental
  factors that shape behavior
• Behavior is learned through observation then
  expressed (imitated) through modeling

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Cognitive Factors

• Cognitive processing (thinking) is occurring
  during learning
• Attention to actions
• Mental rehearsal of actions
• Develop verbal and visual representations of
  actions

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Cognitive Factors (cont.)

• Expectations
• About outcomes of the behavior
• About ability to perform successfully
  (self-efficacy beliefs)
• Awareness of Contingencies
• Realization that the behavior is related to
  certain punishment OR reinforcement. Leads to
  increase of decrease in frequency in behavior

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Cognitive Factors (cont.)Self-Efficacy Beliefs

• Beliefs about ones ability or capacity to
  execute a behavior successfully
• Influences several aspects of behavior, including
• Choice of activities
• Goals
• Effort and persistence
• Learning and achievement

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Observational Learning Or Modeling

• Learning that occurs through watching the
  behavior of others

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R P Modeling

• Observer reinforced by model
• Observer reinforced by 3rd person
• Imitation or modeling itself leads to
  reinforcement
• What happens to the model affects observers
  behavior (vicarious consequences)

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Whats going on here?

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The Effects of Modeling on the Observer

• Teaches new behaviors
• Influences frequency of previously learned
  behaviors
• Increases the frequency of similar behaviors
• Encourage previously forbidden behaviors

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Characteristics of Effective Models

• The model
• Is competent
• Has prestige and power
• Behaves in ways that are consistent with the
  observers gender identification
• Exhibits behavior relevant to the observers
  situation

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Your Turn Dangerous Minds Videoclip

• Look for Models
• What characteristics do they have?
• Look for reinforcers for the models AND for the
  observers