Editing Social learning theory (section)

{{short description|Theory of learning and behaviour}}
'''Social learning theory''' is a psychological theory of [[social behavior]] that explains how people acquire new behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions through observing and imitating others. It states that [[learning]] is a [[cognitive process]] that occurs within a [[social context]] and can occur purely through observation or direct instruction, even without physical practice or direct [[reinforcement]].<ref name="SLPD">{{cite book |last=Bandura |first=Albert |year=1963 |title=Social learning and personality development |publisher=Holt, Rinehart, and Winston |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/sociallearningpe00bandrich |url-access=registration}}</ref> In addition to the observation of behavior, learning also occurs through the observation of rewards and punishments, a process known as vicarious reinforcement. When a particular behavior is consistently rewarded, it will most likely persist; conversely, if a particular behavior is constantly punished, it will most likely desist.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Renzetti |first1=Claire |last2=Curran |first2=Daniel |last3=Maier |first3=Shana |year=2012 |title=Women, Men, and Society |publisher=Pearson |isbn=978-0205863693 |pages=78–79}}</ref> The theory expands on traditional [[behaviorism|behavioral theories]], in which behavior is governed solely by reinforcements, by placing emphasis on the important roles of various internal processes in the learning individual.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Bandura |first=Albert |year=1971 |title=Social Learning Theory |publisher=General Learning Corporation |url=http://www.jku.at/org/content/e54521/e54528/e54529/e178059/Bandura_SocialLearningTheory_ger.pdf |access-date=25 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024214846/http://www.jku.at/org/content/e54521/e54528/e54529/e178059/Bandura_SocialLearningTheory_ger.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2013}}</ref> [[Albert Bandura]]<ref name=":1" /> is widely recognized for developing and studying it.