Bandura's Social Learning Theory

Bandura's Social Learning Theory suggests that people learn behaviors and attitudes by observing others, rather than solely through direct experience or reinforcement. According to Bandura, we imitate what we see, especially from role models like parents or peers. Key elements of this theory include attention (noticing the behavior), retention (remembering it), reproduction (being able to replicate it), and motivation (having a reason to imitate). For example, a child might learn to say "please" and "thank you" by watching their parents use these polite words. This emphasizes the importance of social context in shaping our understanding and actions.