PSYCH-101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Social Cognitive Theory, Observational Learning, Readwrite

• School: Diablo Valley College
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH-101
• Professor: Catterson

Document Summary

Observational learning is learning that occurs by observing the behaviour of a model. Humans have a very large capacity of observational learning and it allows us to avoid trial and error for learned skills: also known as modeling . Bandura"s social cognitive theory states that people learn by observing the behaviour of models and acquiring beliefs that they can produce to influence events in their lives. Self-efficacy is people"s belief that they have the capability to perform a specific behaviour that will produce a desired outcome: bandura says it is a key motivational factor. We are more likely to imitate models of high status, who are likeable or who have power. Viewer exposure to violent, aggression tv programs and games have shown to: decrease viewer"s concert about suffering of victim, habituate violence, and increase viewer"s tendency to respond aggressively in a situation. Viewer exposure to pro-social behaviour, increases people"s helping behaviour.