• Students will understand the historical context from which social-cognitive theory developed.
• Students will be able to identify at least 3 assumptions underlying the theory.
• Students will be able to identify the importance of "models", identify types of models, and characteristics of effective models.
• Students will be able to contrast the concept of vicarious reinforcement with direct reinforcement described by Skinner.
• Students will be able to describe at least 5 internal processes which play a central role in all learning.
• Students will be able to describe the effects of low versus high self-efficacy, and describe ways to increase self-efficacy among learners.
• Students will be understand specific classroom issues which impact motivation, and will be able to consider these issues in developing classroom strategies.

Social Cognitive Theory...AKA Observational Learning

    1) Locate a magazine advertisement geared to adolescents that demonstrates modeling.  Describe the model and the assumed affect on adoelscents.  How would the model be different if the intended audience of the advertising was adults?

    2)  Write an explanation of the development of reprehensible conduct and then devise an example that incorporates the four dissociative practices that are responsible for disengagement.

    3) Compare and contrast Skinner and Bandura's conceptions of the development of self-regulation.
 
 
Links to Resources 

• The Theory into Practice theories list
• Social learning theory with some thoughts on violence
• Bandura notes from a mass communications class at Purdue University

2)  In your current work setting (defined as broadly as you would like), identify at least 2 persons for whom you serve as a model.  For each person, identify what specific behaviors you model that are positive, and identify characteristics that make you a good model.

3)  Consider the following:
    A twelve-year-old male experiences extreme anxiety in situations involving mathematical calculations
    and symbols.  Each time he is rpesented with a task involving these manipulations, he becomes
    anxious and typically fails the task.  When questioned concerning the boy's problem, his parents
    reported that the problem began in second grade, but they were not certain what caused its onset.

    (a)  Assume that the problem was learned through social learning.  Explain what circumstances may
          have created this learning.  Speculate about likely models and models' characteristics.
    (b) Explain the process using social cognitive theory that could be used by the classroom teacher
          to help this child overome his anxiety in the presence of math tasks.  Be sure to use terms
          connected with the theory being discussed.
 
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