Behavior and

Learning Theories

• Operant conditioning by B.F Skinner

• Social learning theory by Albert Bandura
Group members
01 02 03
Samaha Alvi Mahnoor Saira Hameed
BSP211031 BSP211046 BSP211029
(Group Leader)

04 05
Izzah Zafar Raheela Sultan
BSP203052 BSP211040
Table of contents
01 02 03
B.F skinner Operant
conditioning Albert Bandura

04 05 06
Social learning Self-regulation Self-efficacy
theory
 01
B.F Skinner

Proponent of the behaviourist theory of

learning
B.F Skinner

● Heavily influenced by the work of John

B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov and Edward
Thorndike
● Pioneered the science of behaviorism
● discovered the power of positive
reinforcement in education
● Invented the Skinner box
● Designed the foremost psychological
experiments
 02
Operant
conditioning
The behavior is followed by a consequence,
and the nature of the consequence modifies
the organism’s tendency to repeat the
behavior in the future
Two main postulates
1. A behavior followed by a
reinforcing stimulus results in an
increased probability of that
behavior occurring in the future.
2. A behavior no longer followed by
the reinforcing stimulus results in a
decreased probability of that
behavior occurring in the future
resulting in the extinction of the
operant behavior.
 Scenario
• A special cage (called a “Skinner box”) that
has a bar or pedal on one wall that, when
pressed, causes a little mechanism to release a
food pellet into the cage.

• The rat accidentally presses the bar and a

food pellet falls into the cage.

• If you don’t give the rat any more pellets he

stops his bar-pressing behavior (extinction of
operant)

• if you turn the pellet machine back on, the

behavior of bar-pushing will “pop” right
back into existence (return of operant)
 Principles of operant
conditioning
1. Reinforcement 2. Punishment
• Positive Reinforcement • Positive Punishment

• Negative Reinforcement • Negative Punishment

Schedules of Reinforcement
Description Result

Moderate response rate with

Reinforcement is delivered at predictable time
Fixed interval significant pauses after
intervals (e.g., after 5, 10 minutes).
reinforcement

Reinforcement is delivered at unpredictable time Moderate yet steady

Variable interval
intervals (e.g., after 5, 7, 10, and 20 minutes). response rate

Reinforcement is delivered after a predictable number High response rate with

Fixed ratio
of responses (e.g., after 2, 4, 6, and 8 responses). pauses after reinforcement

Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable

High and steady response
Variable ratio number of responses (e.g., after 1, 4, 5, and 9
rate
responses).
Contributions of Skinner

Operant Conditioning Radical Behaviorism

Skinner Box Technology of Teaching

Schedules of Reinforcement Verbal Behavior

Behaviorism
Limitations

Ignores the Role of Internal Doesn’t Address

Thoughts and Motivations Underlying Issues

Not All Behaviours can be

Conditioned
Over-Reliance on External
Motivation Requires Consistent
Application
Limitations

Temporal Context is Sometimes

Overlooked Unintended Consequences

Individual Differences are

Overlooked
Difficulty in Identifying
Appropriate Reinforcers and
Ethical Considerations Punishers
Assessment
He was not dealing directly with personality. He did, however, assess
behavior.
Skinner’s approach to assessing behavior is called functional analysis and
it involves three aspects of behavior.

1. The frequency of the 2. The situation in 3. The reinforcement

behavior which the behavior associated with the
occurs behavior
Skinner’s approaches to assess
behavior
Approaches

Direct Usually, two or more people conduct the observation to assure accuracy and
Observation reliability

The person observes his or her behavior and reports on it. Questionnaires for
Self-reports assessing behavior are similar in format to self-report inventories that assess
personality.

Physiological These Assessments of behavior include heart rate, muscle tension, and brain
measurements waves.
Research
● Skinner’s research methods diverged from mainstream experimental psychology
● Skinner preferred the intensive study of a single subject
● Argued that data on the average performance of groups is of little value in dealing with a
particular case.
● Valid and replicable results could be obtained without statistical analysis as long as
sufficient data were collected from a single subject under well-controlled experimental
conditions
● Resulting data could not reflect individual response behavior and individual differences
in behavior.
 03
Albert
Bandura
1925-2021
American Psychologist and Originator of social
cognitive theory. Bandura pursued bachelor degree
from University of Columbia. Master degree from
university of LOWA IN 1951. Received numerous
awards for his contribution in the field of
psychology.
 04
Social
Learning
Theory
Social learning theory
Purposed by Albert Bandura and Robert Sears .

According to the social learning theory both cognitive and

environmental factors interact to effect observable
behaviour and the learning process.

Albert Bandura and Robert Sere agree with the behaviour

learning theory of operant conditioning and classical
conditioning but also add two significant evolution ideas in
human learning behaviour .

In human society, peoples learn behaviour from the

environment through the observational learning process.

Mediating processes take place between the stimulus and

response.
OBSERVATIONAL
LEARNING
Process where individual acquire new behaviour and knowledge by
observing and imitating others.
This type of learning involves key components .
 Components Explanation
Attentional Processes Developing our cognitive processes and perceptual skills so that we
can pay sufficient attention to a model, and perceiving the model
accurately enough, to imitate displayed behavior. Example:
Staying awake during driver’s education class.

Retention Processes Retaining or remembering the model’s behavior so that we can

imitate or repeat it at a later time. Example: Taking notes on the
lecture material or the video of a person driving a car.

Production Processes Translating the mental images or verbal symbolic representations of

the model’s behavior into our own overt behavior by physically
producing the responses and receiving feedback on the accuracy of
our continued practice. Example: Getting in a car with an instructor
to practice shifting gears.

Incentive and Perceiving that the model’s behavior leads to a reward and thus
Motivation expecting that our learning of the same behavior will lead to similar
consequences. Example: Expecting that when we have mastered
Processes
driving skills, we will pass the state test and receive a driver’s license
Goal Setting in Social Learning Theory

Goal setting plays a crucial role in human motivation and learning. Bandura
explained goal setting in SLT through the following:
Observational Learning
● Individuals observe others setting and achieving goals.
● This observation influences their beliefs about the feasibility of achieving
similar goals.
● Observing successful models increases their motivation and self-efficacy
(belief in their ability to succeed).
Self-efficacy and Goal Setting:
● Self-efficacy is a key factor influencing goal setting.
● Individuals with high self-efficacy set ambitious goals and persist despite
challenges.
● Conversely, individuals with low self-efficacy may set lower goals or avoid
setting goals altogether.
Goal Setting in Social Learning Theory

Role of Goals in Motivation:

● Goals provide direction and focus for behavior.
● They energize individuals and increase their motivation to engage in goal-
directed activities.
● Achieving goals leads to positive reinforcement, further strengthening
motivation and self-efficacy.
Goal Setting Strategies:
● Specific: Goals should be clear, concise, and well-defined.
● Measurable: Progress towards goals should be quantifiable.
● Attainable: Goals should be challenging but achievable.
● Relevant: Goals should be aligned with individual values and interests.
● Time-bound: Goals should have specific deadlines.
Goal Setting in Social Learning Theory

Social Support and Goal Achievement:

● Social support plays a vital role in goal achievement.
● Individuals surrounded by supportive individuals are more likely to set
ambitious goals and persist in the face of adversity.
● Social support can provide encouragement, feedback, and resources to aid
goal attainment.
Importance of goal setting
● Self-regulation: Goals help individuals regulate their behavior and control
their impulses.
● Personal growth: Achieving goals fosters confidence, self-esteem, and a
sense of accomplishment.
● Improved performance: Setting goals motivates individuals to strive for
excellence and improve their skills.
 05
Self-
regulation
Self-regulation in Social Learning Theory

Bandura introduced the concept of self-regulation in the 1970s, arguing that

individuals are not merely passive recipients of environmental influences.
Instead, they possess the ability to monitor, evaluate, and modify their own
behavior based on internal standards and goals.
This self-regulatory process involves several key components:
● Self-Observation
● Self-Evaluation
● Self-Judgment
● Self-Reaction
Sub functions of self-regulation
● Self-monitoring
● Self-judgment
● Self-reaction
Self-regulation in Social Learning Theory

Concept of self-regulation is closely linked to:

● Self-efficacy
● Personal agency
● Goal setting
● Social influence
06
Self
Efficacy
Theory
Albert Bandura has defined self-efficacy as people’s belief in
their ability to control their functioning and events that
affect their lives.

Self-efficacy is the term that refers to a person’s feeling that

their thoughts and actions have an influence over a given
outcome.

• Persons with a greater sense of self-efficacy are more

inclined to succeed.
 Four Sources of Self-Efficacy

• Mastery Experiences
• Vicarious Experiences (Modeling)
• Verbal Persuasion
• Physiological and Emotional States
Contributions
Bandura's early work involved a study of social and
familial determinants of aggression. He developed theories
of social modeling and studied the role of this modeling in
children's cognitive and linguistic development.

He then turned his attention to children's language

development through abstract modeling. He also studied
self-regulation processes and self-efficacy, culminating in
the book "Social Learning Theory."

Bandura's contributions to human development and

education include an expansion of these ideas:
understanding children's social development,
understanding children's cognitive development,
understanding observational learning, understanding self-
regulation, and understanding self-efficacy beliefs.
Limitations
Social learning theory may not fully recognize cultural
variations in learning and behavior, with potential
applicability variations across diverse cultural contexts.

Bandura’s theory addresses aggression, but critics contend

that it inadequately explains the complexities of aggressive
behavior, especially regarding innate factors.

Critics say social learning theory focuses too much on

watching and learning from others, neglecting how our
own thoughts influence behavior. It also struggles to
accurately predict specific behaviors due to a limited
understanding of the complexities of human behavior.
Research in Social Learning Theory
Some key research findings that support social learning theory:
Observational Learning:
● Bobo Doll Experiment
● Observing Peers
Reinforcement and Punishment:
● Modeling and Reinforcement
● Vicarious Reinforcement and Punishment
Modeling Factors:
● Perceived Similarity
● Competence and Status
Research in Social Learning Theory
Observational Learning in the Media:
● Media Violence
● Prosocial Media
Assessment in social learning theory
Some key points about assessment
● Focus on observation and modeling: Assessments should focus on
observing and evaluating how individuals observe and learn from models,
including peers, teachers, and other significant figures. This can involve
observing the learner's attention to the model, their ability to recall and
reproduce the modeled behavior, and their motivation to engage in the
behavior.
● Measurement of self-efficacy: Self-efficacy, one's belief in their ability to
perform a specific behavior, is a core concept in SLT. Assessment should
include measuring an individual's self-efficacy for the target behavior. This
can be done through self-reported questionnaires, observation of self-
regulatory behaviors, and performance tasks.
Assessment in social learning theory
● Emphasis on social interaction: Social learning theory emphasizes the
importance of social interaction and feedback in shaping behavior.
Assessment should consider the learner's social environment and how it
influences their learning. This can involve observing the learner's
interactions with peers and teachers, assessing the quality of feedback they
receive, and evaluating the classroom environment for its support of social
learning.
● Assessment methods: Various assessment methods align with SLT
principles, including:
1. Observation checklists
2. Role-playing scenarios
3. Self-assessment tools
4. Peer assessment