Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

Question 1

What theory did Albert Bandura pioneer?

Answer 1

Social cognitive theory (SCT)

Question 2

What is the main principle of SCT?

Answer 2

What one knows/how one behaves is imitation-driven; we do as our models do

Question 3

What are the 4 main components of SCT?

Answer 3

ARMM:

Attention - attention = learning

Retention - remembering = easier imitation

Motor Reproduction - physical reproduction of an action

Motivation - we should be motivated to perform a model’s behaviour (or not!)

Question 4

What is the inhibitory effect?

Answer 4

If a model is punished for a behaviour, it will inhibit those watching the model from doing the behaviour (disinhibitory is the opposite)

Question 5

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 5

Neurons in specific parts of the brain that fire in response to witnessing and/or performing an activity

Question 6

What factors inhibit observational learning?

Answer 6

Any of…
- developmental age/level
- similarity (or lack thereof) between model and learner
- outcome expectations
-goal setting (we only want to watch models who model our goals)
- lack of belief that one can imitate a behaviour
- status of the model