Biography

 Albert Bandura (born on December 4,1925 in Mundare

Alberta, Canada. He has specialised in social cognitive
theory and self efficacy.
 Education :Bandura graduated with a B.A. from the University of
British Columbia with the Bolocan Award in psychology, and then
obtained his M.A. in 1951 and Ph.D. in 1952 from the University
of Iowa. Arthur Benton was his academic adviser at Iowa. [1]
Upon graduation, he participated in a clinical internship with the
Wichita Kansas Guidance Center. The following year, he accepted
a teaching position at Stanford, the same position he holds today.
 Academic career: Bandura joined the faculty of the Department of
Psychology at Stanford University in 1953, where he has remained
to pursue his career. In 1974 the American Psychological
Association elected him to its presidency.
 Earlier Explanations Of Observational
Learning

Early Greeks – Plato Aristotle (education

selecting the best model.)
Thorndike – first attempt to study
observational learning experimentally.
Results unfavorable
JB Watson- replicated earlier experiment
Conclusions – direct experience not
vicarious learning.
Miller and Dollard – challenged nativistic
explanation
 Types of imitative
behaviour
Same behaviour- same situation same
response

Copying behaviour- guiding or instructing

.responses are strengthened and reinforced

Matched dependent behaviour- reinforcement

for blind repetition. Characteristic of adult
behaviour . (generalized imitation)
 Learning according to
Bandura
Observational learning may or may not
involve imitation.
Role of “information”
Acknowledged that Observational learning is
complex
Uses cognitive elements .
 Bobo doll experiment
2 types of reinforcement presented- vicarious
reinforcement ,vicarious punishment.
1 neutral group.
Role of learning ,reinforcement
performance .e.g. Tolman and Honzik
experiment
 Factors that affect
Observational learning
Attentional processes- sensory capacities
selective reinforcement influenced by past
reinforcement. Characteristics of models (i.e.
similarity ,reputation)
Retentional processes- information is stored
in 2 ways
1 imaginally
2 verbally
The 2 process are linked
Information is retrieved cognitively.
Factors that affect Observational learning
Behavioural production processes- these
processes determine the extent to which
learning is translated into performance . E.g.
observing monkeys
Cognitive rehearsal.

Motivational processes-reinforcement it serves

2 functions
1 expectation
2 incentive
Both these functions are informational
 Factors that affect
Observational learning
Reciprocal Determinism-interaction between
person P, behaviour B, environment E

E B
Self regulation of behaviour
Human behaviour is largely self regulated.
Learning is a product of direct and vicarious
experience and performance standards.
Standards can arise from ones direct experience
with reinforcement from significant others.
Bandura believes intrinsic reinforcement comes
from self evaluation and this is more influential
than extrinsic reinforcement dispensed by others.
However if one has very high standards of
performance it can prove to be a source of
personal distress
Self efficacy
Self efficacy-one’s ability to perform various
tasks. One’s perceived self-efficacy may or
may not correspond to one’s actual self
efficacy. Perceived self efficacy plays a major
role in self-regulated behaviour.
Moral Conduct
Model code develops through interactions with models.
Departure from one’s moral codebrings self contempt.
However individuals develop self exonerating mechanisms these
are
1moral justification
2 euphemistic labeling
3 advantageous comparison
4 displacement of responsibility
5 diffusion of responsibility
6disregard or distortion of consequences
7dehumanization
8 attribution of blame
Psychopathology
A product of dysfunctional learning and the
resulting incorrect anticipations.
Phobias maybe a result of inappropriate
generalizations.
Inadvertent reinforcement
Overly severe set of self standards ,and the
resulting attempts to avoid guilt or external
punishment through excessive self contempt.
Distorted view of reality
Faulty processing of information
Faulty beliefs
Psychotherapy
Powerful disconfirming experiences – phobias
New responses maybe acquired by watching a
model being reinforced
Modeling participation
Restore self efficacy
Positive reinforcement, desensitization and
cognitive restructuring.
Conversation is not seen as enough
Criticisms
Therapists viewpoint is used to treat the client
Determinism vs. freedom freedom varies in
social contexts
Ignores conflicts both conscious and
unconscious.
Bias against psychoanalysis.
Bandura combines different viewpoints e.g.
Kelly’s constructs Freud's excessive superego
Contributions
It has a grounding in empirical research
Emphasis on human rather than animal subjects
Propagates new forms of psychotherapy such as
modeling
Provides behaviourism with a more convincing rationale
than Skinner or Dollard and Miller.
Redefines behaviourism and personality theory.
Brings together different ideas .
Eclectic viewpoint
Accepts observation as a valid method for learning
Self regulation of behaviour and reciprocal determinism
and social factors taken into consideration
Questions