Social Learning: The What and the Why

What comes to mind when you see Social Learning? Is it learning with others? Learning via social media? Over 50 years ago the psychologist?Albert Bandura?first proposed the social learning theory (SLT). Built upon theories of behavioural learning, the SLT posits that behaviour is learned via reinforcement and modelling of others.?

Watching, listening,?and doing

Bandura later re-established the SLT, adding a recognition for the importance of observation. In a nutshell, the SLT states that we learn by watching, listening and doing. This process of obtaining knowledge and understanding through?thought,?experience, and our?senses, allows for nuanced education reproduction or reinforcement. However, this is not to say that the learner is passive. The learner influences and is influenced by, their environment and behaviour. For example, a friend who enjoys playing a game will encourage others to play as well.?

The Foundation of social learning

Social Learning is further impacted by Bandura’s?Four Principles of Social Learning, which are the necessary conditions under which any sort of observing and modelling behaviour takes place. The four principles are:

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