Principles of Learning

One of Bandura's goals was to explain behavior in a natural setting where complex
behaviors can be acquired through observation of behavior and behavioral consequences.  Skinner assumed that rigorous investigation in the laboratory would lead to laws of behavior that would apply in other settings.

Bandura's focus on the nature of the learning process led him to emphasize different components of that process.  While he is founded in a behavioral perspective, there is also a base in research on socialization. Behaviorists treat imitative learning as an association between a particular stimulus and a particular response (classical conditioning). Bandura says this is wrong because:
 
    (1) Behavioral research has failed to address the multitude of social variables
        which are not replicated in the lab
    (2) Conditioning theory cannot account for novel responses (combinations of
        modeled behaviors)
    (3) Instantaneous matching: individuals may perform a beahvior simultaneously
        with a model, not allowing for conditioning to occur. 

 


    Bandura sees much behavior as delayed matching where behavior is not performed immediately and direct reinforcement is not required.  An example is a child who goes to school, and at lunch, another child shares a cookie.  The first child enjoys the cookie shared by his new friend, and so the following day shares his cookie with her.  So, the behavior is:

        someone shares a cookie ---> eat some cookie ---> give away some cookie
                  modeled behavior --->   reinforcement  ---> learner response

    If you will recall the basic Skinnerian model, this scenario does not fit primarily because of the temporal order.  Skinner's model suggests that the reinforcement must always come after the operant behavior.  In this case, the reinforcement appears to be getting some cookie to eat, while the operant or learned behavior is sharing, which our young male subject does after the reinforcer.

    At the risk of confusing the subject somewhat, it is important to note that Bandura does not say that behavior must follow this pattern (model-reinforcement-response).  I have drawn it in these terms only in an attempt to show the distinction between this view and Skinner's view.

    Now, to confuse the matter even more, take a minute and on a sheet of scrap paper, diagram the above interaction from a Skinnerian perspective.  What reinforcer is available to this young man after he shares his cookie with his new friend?  Most (all?) behavior can be understood from either of these perspectives.


 
 

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