Psychology Atlas

How The Mind Works
Theories and Concepts

Social Learning Theory

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Social learning theory explains how people acquire new behaviors, attitudes and emotional reactions through observing and imitating others. Bandura's formulation frames learning as a cognitive process occurring in a social context, with reciprocal determinism: an individual's behavior is shaped by the environment, and the environment is in turn shaped by the individual's behavior. The term predates Bandura, first used by Neal Miller and John Dollard in 1941.

Facts
Core Claim
Learning is not purely behavioral but a cognitive process occurring in a social context, through observation and imitation, with behavior and environment shaping each other reciprocally. 1
Origin Year
1977 2
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1. Wikipedia: Social learning theory
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Social learning theory is a psychological theory of social behavior that explains how people acquire new behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions through observing and imitating others.
1. Wikipedia: Social learning theory
Wikimedia Foundationbody text
Quote, body text
Learning is not purely behavioral; rather, it is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context
2. Wikipedia: Albert Bandura
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Social Learning Theory
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