Albert Bandura

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Albert Bandura

• Social Cognitive Theory
• No Trial Learning

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1. How is Bandura different from Skinner?
2. How did Bandura extend Skinner's theory of
   Operant Conditioning?
3. How do Skinner and Bandura differ on
   reinforcement?

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Banduras Beliefs

• 1. Infants possess a collection of innate
  reflexes
• 2. Humans are capable of using symbols to
  internalize (may include both rational judgments
  and irrational beliefs)
• 3. Humans have a capacity for forethought
  (explains how goals influence behavior)
  individuals are capable of anticipating and
  behavior is reflective of this anticipation.
  This explains how individuals demonstrate new
  behavior when not a part of their personal
  history.

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Banduras Beliefs (cont.)

• 4. Individuals learn vicariously (by observation)
  - this is the extension of Skinner
• 5. Individuals are capable of reflection of their
  own thoughts thus learning based upon thought
  rather than direct experience.

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Problems for Study

• The effects of
• observational learning,
• inhibition/disinhabition (based upon the
  situation - sitting up straight when the
  teacher is near or children who begin talking
  more at bedtime),
• response facilitation (a function of the behavior
  of others - peer pressure),
• environmental enhancement (children will fight
  more if they observe parents fighting).

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Internal Principles

• Triadic Reciprocality
• Behavior
• Environment
• Individuals Personal Beliefs

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Bridge Principles

• Differential Contributions (relative importance
  at any given time of each factor within Triadic
  Reciprocality)
• the environment may be extra important (peer
  group in High School)
• one's personality may influence the choice of
  tasks and behaviors (cognition and personal
  factors)
• the model may be being reinforced for
  "appropriate" (as seen by the individual)
  behavior how close is this person to me in
  terms of sex age race etc.

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Bridge Principles (Cont.)

• 2. Temporal Dynamics - how the Triadic effects
  work over time. Gradually or immediately
  (consideration of other's feelings or group
  glee)
• 3. Fortuitous Determinants - the effects of
  chance

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Change Mechanisms

• 1. Acquisition - Attention and Retention
• Attention -
• for learning to occur, individuals must pay
  attention and perceive (I chose Joe Namath and
  behaved like some of his behaviors - white
  football shoes, long hair, knee brace - but not
  all of Joe's behavior was modeled, late nights,
  alcohol)
• IN SHORT We choose models who are
  influential

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Change Mechanisms (cont.)

• Retention - (how we commit events (attention) to
  memory)
• Symbolic Transformations. These confer
  personal meanings to events. (Joe Namath was
  someone to model because he was a QB, got girls
  and was popular. I wanted to be the same)
• imaginal - I imagine I'm Joe Namath
• linguistic - talking about and like Joe Namath
  and his methods of behavior
• rehearsal - practice - behaving like Joe Namath
  as often as possible

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Change Mechanisms (cont.)

• 2. performance - Production and
  Motivation
• you may acquire and retain new behavior, but
  performance requires a reason. Its based upon
  an individuals cognitive abilities in short --
  we need a reason. Its all about motivation.