Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

When to use Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

Teaching interpersonal, procedural or leadership behaviours that are easier to show than to explain.

How Social Learning Theory (Bandura) works

Activities include expert demonstrations, modeling of desired behaviors, and practice with feedback.

Phases of Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

1. Attention: Make sure learners actually watch the model: a credible demonstrator, a clear focus on the key behaviour, minimal distraction.
2. Retention: Help learners remember what they saw by naming the steps, summarising, or having them describe the behaviour in their own words.
3. Reproduction: Let learners try the behaviour themselves, with practice and feedback until they can perform it.
4. Motivation: Show why the behaviour is worth using, for example by showing its results or having peers share their successes.

Key principles

• People learn by observing models
• Vicarious reinforcement
• Four processes: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
• Self-efficacy grows through practice and seeing peers succeed

Best for

• Behaviour and communication skills
• Leadership and management training
• Customer service and sales
• Peer learning and mentoring

Considerations

• Learners copy what they see, including a model's mistakes; prepare demonstrations carefully.
• Observation alone is not enough; reproduction with feedback is essential.
• Bandura later extended the theory into Social Cognitive Theory (1986), which adds self-efficacy and reciprocal determinism.

Attribution & sources

Developed by Albert Bandura, 1977

Primary source

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