ALBERT  BANDURA

Modeling and Observational Learning

There are two basic models of learning. People can learn by direct experience and through the power of social modeling. The advanced capacity of observational learning from modeled activities and their effects enables people to short cut the tedious trial and error process.

Evolutionary advances in communications technology enable people to transcend the confines of their lived environment. Attitudes, values, and new ways of thinking and behaving are now being modeled and rapidly diffused worldwide. A major importance of symbolic modeling lies in its tremendous reach, speed, and power.

Social modeling serves diverse functions in promoting personal and social change. In addition to cultivating new competencies, modeling influences can alter motivation, emotional dispositions, and value systems. Moreover, people's images of social reality and the structure and ideologial orientations of societies are heavily influenced by the symbolic modeling in the mass media.

Bandura A. (1986). Observational learning. In A. Bandura, Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory, (pp. 169-195) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Bandura A. (2016). The power of observational learning through social modeling. In R. Stenberg, S.T. Fiske, D.J Foss (Eds.). Scientists making a difference: One hundred eminent behavioral and brain scientists talk about their most important contributions (pp. 235-239). Cambridge University Press.
Bandura, A. (1992). Observational learning. In L. Squire (Ed.), Encyclopedia of learning and memory. New York: Macmillan.
Bandura, A. (1965).Vicarious processes: A case of no-trial learning.  In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 1-55).  New York:  Academic Press, 1965.
Bandura, A. (1970). Modeling theory: Some traditions, trends, and disputes. In W. Sahakian (Ed.), Psychology of learning: Systems, models, and theories. Chicago: Markham.
Bandura, A. (1989). Social cognitive theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Annals of child development. Vol. 6. Six theories of child development (pp. 1-60). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Rosenthal, T. L., & Bandura, A. (1978). Psychological modeling: Theory and practice. In S. L. Garfield & A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley.

RESEARCH

Carroll, W. R., & Bandura, A., (1990). Representational guidance of action production in observational learning: A causal analysis. Journal of Motor Behavior, 22, 85-97.
Carroll W. R., & Bandura, A. (1987). Translating cognition into action: The role of visual guidance in observational learning. Journal of Motor Behavior, 19, 385-398.
Carroll, W. R., & Bandura, A. (1982). The role of visual monitoring in observational learning of action patterns: Making the unobservable observable. Journal of Motor Behavior, 14, 153-167.
Carroll, W. R., & Bandura, A. (1985). Role of timing of visual monitoring and motor rehearsal in observational learning of action patterns. Journal of Motor Behavior, 17, 269-281.
Bandura, A., & Jeffery, R. W. (1973). Role of symbolic coding and rehearsal processes in observational learning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 26, 122-130.
Bandura, A., Jeffery, R. W., & Bachicha, D. L. (1974). Analysis of memory codes and cumulative rehearsal in observational learning.  Journal of Research in Personality, 7, 295-305.
Bandura, A., & Harris, M. B. (1966). Modification of syntactic style.  Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 4, 341-352.
Bandura, A., & Rosenthal, T. L. (1966).  Vicarious classical conditioning as a function of arousal level.  Journal Personality anof d Social Psychology, 3, 54-62.
Bandura, A., Grusec, J. E., & Menlove, F. L. (1966). Observational learning as a function of symbolization and incentive set. Child Development, 37, 499-506.
Bandura, A. (1965). Influence of models’ reinforcement contingencies on the acquisition of imitative responses.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1, 589-595.
Bandura, A., & Barab, P. (1971). Conditions governing nonreinforced imitation. Developmental Psychology, 5, 244-255.

VIDEOS

Inside the Psychologist Studio with Albert Bandura.
Introduction to Social Cognitive Theory, Davidson Films
Reducing urgent global problems by psychosocial means
Toward an Agentic Theory for the New Millenium.

BOOKS

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. (Chapter 2)
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Bandura, A. (Ed.). (1971). Psychological modeling: Conflicting theories. Chicago: Aldine-Atherton Press. (Chapter 2).
Bandura, A. (2023). Social Cognitive Theory: An agentic perspective on human nature. New Jersey: Wiley & Sons.