Social Cognitive Theory
Social Cognitive Theory: Its Concepts and Affects in the Classroom
Stefanie Daniels
Edu 1001 Dr. Trasborg
St. John 's University
Social cognitive theory serves as an explanation that an individual’s knowledge is obtained by observing others within the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences. This theory can be executed in typically three areas of study that expand broadly from them. They are: psychology, communications, and education. When it comes to psychology, many studies have been completed that allow researches to come to the conclusion that it is how the individual takes in new behaviors, and how they are either punished with it or rewarded. In other words, it is how the individual’s brain works and allows them to intake new behavior upon the acts of others. The social cognitive theory is also present in communications that has a big impact on education. For example, media is a great outlet for young children to see celebrities fighting for good causes such as charities for rare diseases with no cure. If the child sees that a famous person is doing good deeds, children will bounce off of that good behavior and learn from it. The social cognitive theory stemmed from work in the area of social learning theory proposed by Neal E. Miller and John Dollard in 1941. However, it was not until Albert Bandura conducted a series of studies to find out why and when children display aggressive behaviors that the actual social cognitive theory was born. These studies demonstrated the value of modeling for acquiring novel behaviors and provided initial evidence for the separation of learning and performance. During these studies, it was also found that the learner intakes more than new behaviors visually. For example, the learner can observe their environment, the person executing the new behavior being learned, and the consequences of executing their newfound behavior. Once Bandura
Stefanie Daniels
Edu 1001 Dr. Trasborg
St. John 's University
Social cognitive theory serves as an explanation that an individual’s knowledge is obtained by observing others within the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences. This theory can be executed in typically three areas of study that expand broadly from them. They are: psychology, communications, and education. When it comes to psychology, many studies have been completed that allow researches to come to the conclusion that it is how the individual takes in new behaviors, and how they are either punished with it or rewarded. In other words, it is how the individual’s brain works and allows them to intake new behavior upon the acts of others. The social cognitive theory is also present in communications that has a big impact on education. For example, media is a great outlet for young children to see celebrities fighting for good causes such as charities for rare diseases with no cure. If the child sees that a famous person is doing good deeds, children will bounce off of that good behavior and learn from it. The social cognitive theory stemmed from work in the area of social learning theory proposed by Neal E. Miller and John Dollard in 1941. However, it was not until Albert Bandura conducted a series of studies to find out why and when children display aggressive behaviors that the actual social cognitive theory was born. These studies demonstrated the value of modeling for acquiring novel behaviors and provided initial evidence for the separation of learning and performance. During these studies, it was also found that the learner intakes more than new behaviors visually. For example, the learner can observe their environment, the person executing the new behavior being learned, and the consequences of executing their newfound behavior. Once Bandura
References: The Gale Group, n.d. Web. (2009) Social cognitive theory. Education.com Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. (updated 2014- publish 2010) Social cognitive theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_cognitive_theory Cherry, Kendra. (2010) Social learning theory http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/sociallearning.htm Kowalski, Dean. (2011) The Technological Role of the Social Cognitive Theory in Education. Portfolio. N.p., n.d. Link to PDF file on social cognitive theory: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2F2summersreadings.wikispaces.com%2Ffile%2Fview%2FOrmrod%2BCht%2B6.doc&ei=iyYnU5SCA-ro0gGUvYGYBw&usg=AFQjCNENOJEW0EVPu0ZYVZc8p4O-ZQ_1GA&bvm=bv.62922401,d.dmQ