| Communication Theory | Social Learning Theory (SLT) |
| Meaning | Social Learning Theory suggests that people acquire new behaviors after observing the behaviors of other individuals. The primary concept of SLT is that human beings imitate the lifestyles and actions of other people by learning new things from them. Also, the process of learning happens through observation of the awards and punishments received by others. This process is known as “vicarious reinforcement” and is used to recognize desirable behavior in order to get rewards. |
| Invention | SLT was theorized by Albert Bandura, a Canadian-American psychologist. He integrated behavioral and cognitive theories of learning to create a concept that would allow explaining various learning experiences that people have in their lives. |
| Development | Initially, the theory was outlined in the first half of the 20th century by Bandura in collaboration with Walters. The detailed examination of the theory and its further development happened in the 1970s. |
| Theory used in studies | Nowadays, SLT is actively used in the neuroscience field of research. Thus, neuroscientists use mirror neurons, which serve as the basis for social and observational learning. Mirror neurons are activated when animals perform various actions and learn from other animals. |
| Practical application | SLT is applied in various areas of expertise, such as criminology, psychology, management, sociology, psychotherapy. For example, school counselors and teachers use the concepts of this theory to enhance better students’ behavior. Thus, a teacher can be a model who demonstrates appropriate behavior. Those learners who manage to behave in the same way receive rewards. |
| Organization of information | In SLT, the information is organized around the primary concepts of learning. These concepts include a cognitive process, which implies that learning is not only behavioral but social as well, vicarious reinforcement and its role, observational learning (modeling), and reciprocal determinism. Reciprocal determinism implies that learners do not just passively receive the information. The environment and various circumstances around them also influence their behavior. |
Social Learning Theory Critique Coursework
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