This paper aims to explain as simply as possible the Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura.
Bandura’s theory supports the idea of a bidirectional effect between individual’s psychosocial environment and them, since they are all active agents (i.e., the human agency concept). Individuals do not only endure their psychosocial environment (i.e., being the object of), but can also act and therefore modify it. The human agency concept is defined as one’s intentional acts, which is not to be confused with the self-esteem concept. Self-esteem consists in an evaluation of one’s personal value. Given individuals’ active role on their environment and their development, they are able to organise and adopt the necessary behaviour in order to get the result they wish for (i.e., the personal efficiency concept). Consequently, individuals can consider themselves as totally inefficient in an activity without lowering their self-esteem. Equally, a good level of self-esteem does not always lead to good performances. Globally, individuals’ psycho-social development depends on three reciprocal factors which are in interaction: (a) their behaviours (b) their personal bio-psycho-socioaffective experiences (c) and their environment in general.
Children have an active role in their development, especially when it comes to developing their behaviour system, be it by observing and/or imitating. Bandura’s theory presents three principal means of learning: (a) by observing another person’s behaviour and its consequences, then imitating it (i.e. vicarious reinforcement); (b) by ameliorating one’s performance thanks to another person’s input; (c) by producing behaviour based on previous similar experiences. This suggests that children gradually develop the cognitive capacities to reason on what appropriate behaviour to adopt in specific contexts, based on their psycho-social skills previously acquired.
In my opinion, this theory invites all of us to believe in our personal capacity to achieve our heartfelt goals, as we are all active agents in our personal development and can reflect on the most appropriate behaviour(s) to adopt. Sometimes you just have to lay back, breathe and trust in your capacities!
Aubrey PHARLA, PEADID