Banduras Social Cognitive Theory free essay sample

Bandura’s Social-Cognitive Theory The social-cognitive theory proposed by Albert Bandura (1925- ) has become the most influential theory of learning and development. It considers that people learn from one another, including such concepts as observational learning, imitation, and modeling. This theory explains human behavior in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences.The four-step pattern of observational learning consists of: (1) Attention, must be aware of the model; (2) Retention, ability of storing information which can be pulled up later and acted on; (3) Reproduction, must replicate the modeled behavior at some time; and (4) Motivation, must have some desire to perform modeled behavior. Bandura’s theory improves upon the behavioral interpretation of modeling provided by Miller and Dollard (1941). Bandura’s work is related to the theories of Vygotsky and Lave which emphasizes the central role of social learning. Classroom AspectsSocial-cognitive theory provides a foundation for improving students’ learning in the classroom. Students should be provided with models that the teacher expects them to learn. More specifically, instruction should support students’ engagement in each of the four-step pattern of observational learning. Students pay more attention to skills and materials if they are personally related to their own experiences. Students’ intention can be facilitated by using graphic organizers and other learning strategies. Teachers should support the motivational aspects by using rewards and punishments. This will shape the students’ behavior when they are provided either to the learner or to a model. To improve motivation, teachers should model attitudes that they want students to adopt such as being interested in the material. Instruction should help students to see the learning leads to personally value and or important outcomes. Students must know if they complete learning tasks successfully, the outcomes they achieve are meaningful or worthy. To encourage these beliefs, teachers’ must create lessons that emphasize real-life situations and pertain to the students’ experiences.Also, instruction should be designed to help students develop self-efficacy for learning. Most simply, the tasks should be less challenging so that students’ are able to perform and make progress. According to social-cognitive theory, all students should be supported in becoming self-regulated learners. Students should set task-specific goals which will help them invent strategies that help with achieving objectives. After implementing strategies, they monitor and adjust their progress, and finally, they use motivational strategies to keep them on task when they become frustrated or encounter difficulties.Self-regulated learners must be flexible and not do tasks all at once. Clinical Aspects Dysfunctional behavior â€Å"fits the social-cognitive theory of Bandura because the reciprocal determinism of environment, cognition, and behavior create maladaptive behavior, just as they can produce psychologically well-adjusted behavior† (Bandura, 2011). Bandura’s social-cognitive theory was developed while studying methods to eliminate or eradicate phobias in patients. A phobia is an irrational fear to an object. The individual knows that this fear is irrational, but that does not decrease the negative affect associated with the phobic object or situation. Phobia’s can be chronic if never faced. The nature of the phobia causes the person to avoid any situation which might involve exposure to phobic stimuli. Phobias may be acquired through observational learning as well. For example, child who hears their parents talking about frightening experiences with bugs, heights, darkness, insects, or doctors may develop similar fears themselves.Frightening experiences set the stage for phobias and are often called social phobias. A social phobia often run in families and develops during childhood. Researchers suggest social phobias may also be accompanied by depression or alcoholism. Treatment methods The most commonly used technique for reducing phobic reactions is systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization is a type of â€Å"behavioral therapy, more specifically, a type of Pavlovian therapy/classical conditioning therapy developed by Joseph Wolfe† (Wikipedia, 2011). To begin his therapy, the individual must be taught relaxation skills in order to decrease fear responses to a specific phobia. Once the individual has been taught these skills, they must use them to react or overcome situations in an established hierarchy of fears. The initial goal is for the â€Å"individual to learn to cope or overcome the fear in each step of the hierarchy, which will lead to overcoming the last step of the fear in the hierarchy† (Wikipedia, 2011). The first component of systematic desensitization is for a therapist to teach the individual cognitive strategies to de al with fears. This is necessary because it helps with controlling the individuals fear, rather than it building up to were it becomes unbearable. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and cognitive reappraisal are three coping strategies that will help an individual deal with phobias. The second component of systematic desensitization is to gradually expose the individual to the feared objects or situations. The therapist will begin by asking the individual to develop a fear hierarchy, listing how unpleasant the various types of exposures are.For example, seeing a picture of spiders in a magazine might be rated 5 out of 100, while having several spiders crawl on one’s arms would be the most fearful experience possible. Once the individual has practiced their relaxation technique, the therapist will then present the individual with a picture, and help them calm down. The therapist would then present unpleasant situations like spiders in a box in another room, a box w ith a clear view of the spiders in the same room, touching the spiders, etc. After the individual as reach each step of progression, the individual is desensitized to the phobia through the use of coping technique. They then realize that nothing will happen to them, and the fear gradually extinguishes. Bandura’s Therapy Bandura believes that there are several types of treatments that will help an individual cope with the fear of objects or situations. First, overt or vicarious modeling is having the individual observe other individuals successfully modeling the behavior to be adopted. Second, covert or cognitive modeling is mostly done through visualization.The therapist has the individual image the modeling behavior before attempting it. Third, enactive mastery is performing behaviors which provoke feelings of anxiety and worry. â€Å"Lastly, all three of these treatments can be included in the systematic desensitization treatment which attempts to reduce the phobic reactions to a less debilitating† (Bandura, 2011). Bandura believes that phobias can be cured through cognitive mediation. This will be done by increasing self-efficacy which will help individuals deal with phobic situations in the future. ConclusionIn conclusion, Bandura’s social cognitive theory has been very effective in the classroom, in clinical aspects, and in treating phobic behaviors. Researchers suggest that this theory is learned by observing and imitating others. Future research should focus on self-regulated learning and curing phobic behaviors which will increase self-efficacy. References Bandura, A. (2011). Social Cognitive Theory. Retrieved from http://www. rpi. edu/bandura. htm Systematic Desensitization. (2011). Retrieved from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. www. wikipedia. org/wiki/systematic_desensitization