PSYC FPX 3500 Assessment 2 Cognitive Psychology Paper

The social learning theory strengthens behaviorist concepts, especially classical and operant conditioning, by integrating mediating processes that impact how people respond to stimuli and learn behaviors from their surroundings through observational learning (Smith, 2021). The theory argues that individuals learn from one another through observation, imitation, and modeling, emphasizing the importance of external stimuli in forming behavior. To be effective, social learning needs the recovery of provided actions and their application in everyday situations. The theory highlights the connection between social settings and learning processes, stating that behaviors are learned through visible interactions, as well as the thoughts and feelings that result from social experiences.

Impact on Learning

The social learning theory encourages learners to develop interpersonal intelligence, which involves understanding others’ intentions, feelings, motivations, desires, and beliefs (Cook & Artino, 2019). This type of intelligence promotes learning through social interactions and the exchange of knowledge. According to Bandura’s social learning theory, individuals learn by observing modeled behaviors from others, implying that an individual’s responses to their surroundings are influenced by how others behave.

This technique highlights that behaviors and emotions develop from observations of other people’s actions and attitudes. The mediational process consists of many critical steps: attention to the observed activity, recalling it, acting on it, and determining the reason for the behavior (Rumjaun & Narod, 2020). When combined with internal or external recognition, this process enhances the chance of the observed behaviors being repeated. As a result, this model suggests that regulated surroundings can promote successful learning.

Behaviorists understand that when instructors model certain behaviors and offer reinforcement for proper responses, students are more willing to repeat those actions in order to get further reinforcement (Gordan, 2019). Social learning theory also supports this pattern. For example, when teaching social skills to people with autism, neurotypical friends frequently act as role models for anticipated behaviors. When an individual with ASD observes a peer, recognizes the behavior, and then correctly engages in that activity, they receive external reinforcement from their educator.

This reinforcement is intended to increase internal motivation as the individual develops a stronger desire for peer relationships (Elbeltagi et al., 2023). Using the social learning theory and accommodating these learners as visual learners, instructors can assist them in focusing on body language and contextual signals. This strategy improves learners’ ability to store their behaviors and rewarded responses into memory, increasing the possibility of them engaging in socially learned behaviors again. 

Strengths and Limitations

The theory of social learning is widely acknowledged for its ability to demonstrate how behavioral changes can result from changes in the environment. It highlights that an individual’s social environment has a significant impact on how they learn, emphasizing the relevance of environmental manipulation in supporting learners. This theory also acknowledges that there are various channels to learning, such as direct experience or observation, which broadens our understanding of how behaviors are learned (Manik et al., 2022).

For example, when people find themselves in circumstances where specific behaviors are not modeled, the chance of those behaviors happening decreases considerably. Furthermore, the theory accounts for differences in culture by recognizing that actions are frequently learned and passed down through cultural traditions. Individuals’ social setting influences their involvement in culturally distinctive activities as they observe and resemble them. While the social learning theory gives useful insights, it does not fully describe all elements of the learning process (Kurtz-Costes, 2019).

The social learning theory has several limitations that should be considered. One significant disadvantage is its inability to understand the underlying cognitive processes involved in learning. While the theory highlights that people participate in activities after seeing others, it does not explain how they gain knowledge of their feelings or know when to act on those emotions (Manik et al., 2022). Furthermore, the theory implies that new actions cannot be acquired in the absence of modeled examples, however, there are numerous cases of people teaching themselves skills without direct social impact.

This self-taught learning calls into question the theory that observation is the only method to acquire behavioral s