Process Underlying Social Learning
And
Application of Social Learning Theory
By: Ricko John M. Mata
I. Objectives
At the end of this article, the students should:
 Analyze the different processes underlying Social Learning properly
 Value the importance of Social Learning effectively
 Explain the different fields of where to apply Social Learning Theory
properly
II. Preview
This topic contains the four processes that form the basis of Social Learning
Theory. These processes are Attention, Retention, Motivation, and Motor
Reproduction.
Also in this topic will discuss the different fields or scenario where Social
Learning Theory can be applied.
III. Content
PROCESS UNDERLYING SOCIAL LEARNING
Attention
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Attention has also been referred to as the allocation of limited processing
resources. This process surrounds the acquisition of the attention of the
learner. Acquisition can be based on such factors as sensory capacity,
arousal level, and past reinforcement.
In order for an individual to learn anything, he or she must pay attention to
the features of the modeled behavior. Anything that distracts your
attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the
model is interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far
more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning.
Retention

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Is the ability to remember everything you hear or learn.
This process involves the learner accessing symbolic coding, mental
image, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal that
has caught their attention.
Motor Reproduction

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This process includes the physical reproduction of the observed activity
through physical capability, self-observation and feedback.
Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it
is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of
the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement.
To reproduce a behavior, the observer must organize responses in
accordance with the model. Observer characteristics affecting
reproduction include physical and cognitive capabilities and previous
performance.
Motivation

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This process includes external vicarious and/or self-reinforced motivation.
In order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be
motivated to imitate the behavior that has been
modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in
motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so
can observing other experience some type of reinforcement or
punishment. For example, if you see another student rewarded with extra
credit for being to class on time, you might start to show up a few minutes
early each day.
APPLICATION OF SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
Management
Social Learning theory proposes that rewards aren't the sole force behind
creating motivation. Thoughts, beliefs, morals, and feedback all help to motivate
us. Three other ways in which we learn are vicarious experience, verbal
persuasion, and physiological states. Modeling, or the scenario in which we see
someone's behaviors and adopt them as our own, aide the learning process as
well as mental states and the cognitive process.
Media violence
Media violence research
Principles of social learning theory have been applied extensively to the study
of media violence. Akers and Burgess hypothesized that observed or
experienced positive rewards and lack of punishment for aggressive behaviors
reinforces aggression. Many research studies have discovered significant
correlations between viewing violent television and aggression later in life, as
well as playing violent video games and aggressive behaviors. The role of
observational learning has also been cited as an important factor in the rise of
rating systems for TV, movies, and video games.
School psychology
Many classroom and teaching strategies draw on principles of social learning
to enhance students' knowledge acquisition and retention. For example, using
the technique of guided participation, a teacher says a phrase and asks the class
to repeat the phrase. Thus, students both imitate and reproduce the teacher's
action, aiding retention. An extension of guided participation is reciprocal
learning, in which both student and teacher share responsibility in leading
discussions. Additionally, teachers can shape the classroom behavior of students
by modeling appropriate behavior and visibly rewarding students for good
behavior. By emphasizing the teacher's role as model and encouraging the
students to adopt the position of observer, the teacher can make knowledge and
practices explicit to students, enhancing their learning outcomes.
Other
An easily envisioned example of social learning in the workplace is in an on-thejob training setting. Here a supervisor either explicitly or implicitly shows a new
employee a physical task to be replicated for the employee's job performance.
Often this physical performance may be quite foreign to the
new employee
However, in most cases after a few run through and attempts
on the employee's part they are able to complete the task by
envisioning the symbolic codes they developed consciously or
unconsciously of the earlier observed model performance.
IV. Lessons Learned:
Our world is a social place. We could not avoid communicating with other
people. We spend most of our time as a member of social group. And by
learning socially, we could use this everywhere we go. Even though when we
were children, we’re interacting with another children and play.
I learned that we should act well because as what I have understood in Social
Learning Theory, behaviors are gained through observation and imitation
meaning that as an experienced person compare to children they imitate or
mimic us whether what we do.
Whether we are talking or not, and whether we are alone or in a group, we are
thinking about what other people think, both about ourselves and about others. In
order to figure out what we will say or do, we constantly consider our perspective
and other individuals’ perspective. We are expected to think about our situation
along with the other people involved in the social situation as we determine what
to say or do.
It is also important in classroom set-up. Social emotional learning
competencies include self awareness, social awareness, self management,
relationship skills, and responsible decision making. These characteristics need
to be developed for children and young adults to be successful, not only in school
but also in life.
V. Exercise
1. This process surrounds the acquisition of the attention of the learner
a. Attention
c. Motor Reproduction
b. Retention
d. Motivation
2. This process includes the physical reproduction of the observe activity
through physical capability, self-observation and feedback.
a. Attention
c. Motivation
b. Retention
d. Motor Reproduction
3. This process includes external vicarious and/or self-reinforced motivation.
a. Attention
c. Motor Reproduction
b. Retention
d. Motivation
4. This process involves the learner accessing symbolic coding of the
behavior that has caught their attention.
a. Attention
c. Motor Reproduction
b. Retention
d. Motivation
(TRUE OR FALSE) In social learning theory, OBSERVATION AND
MODELING of behavior, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others is NOT
the basis of social learning.
___________ 5.