FREE ESSAY ON SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

You asked us in class how did we learn how to act in class. I swear I would have never
been able to answer that question had somebody else not answered that. How interesting to
find out at age 25 how I learned how to do everything. 
I often wondered how I learned to be nice. Then I think how it must of come from my
mother and father. They are very nice people. Even more interesting is I think of a
childhood friend of mine who I occasionally talk to. Her parents were evil people. They
were always saying mean things and giving dirty looks. This childhood friend of mine has
always been and is still an unpleasant person. After reading Bandura's theory, it becomes
very clear (attention -- the individual notices something in the environment, retention
-- the individual remembers what was noticed, reproduction -- the individual produces an
action that is a copy of what was noticed, motivation -- the environment delivers a
consequence that changes the probability the behavior will be emitted again
(reinforcement and punishment).
I do not really understand the concept of self-efficacy. On one hand, it almost seems to
be similar to self-esteem. However, it would seem very reasonable that I would not feel
very confident about juggling because I have never learned how to juggle and every time
I've tried to juggle in the past I could not do it. So one would say that I had low
self-efficacy. But is that bad? I think I would venture to say in some cases it might
have to do with confidence. For example, the book makes an example of trying out for the
lead role in a school play. Now, I know I am not a great actress but I may be more gutsy
for something like that. I suppose low self-efficacy would not be that bad depending on
the circumstance. Another example the book gave was about people who were not the best at
mathematics not taking many math classes. Well, that's me! But I don't necessarily see
that as being so bad. I know I have taken a lot of psychology classes where a mathematics
major would not do that.
So I guess I've convinced myself that low self-efficacy is not that bad; it just effects
behavior. It could be bad for some things like shyness or poor reading/writing skills.
But as far as being a juggler or a math major, you can count me out!
I have read a little bit of the book "Emotional Intelligence". Boy was I relieved when
that came out. Not only did I not feel alone anymore in the appreciation of myself but I
was relieved to find out that my average IQ score wasn't the only important thing about
me.
I have always prided myself on my social behavior (or my behavior in public). I realize I
may not be perfect but if you tell me my hair is sticking up in a specific place I am
certainly not going to cry. I have also always been very "street smart", which is another
element of emotional intelligence. I may not be able to solve a trigonometry equation but
I can get around the city of Chicago merely on the number system and a little help from
North, South, West and East. Being 25-years-old this might seem appropriate. However, as
I observe my peers, I start to feel very above-average! This, of course, not to be a
put-down but simply to show how emotional intelligence plays such an important role in
the United States.
The last thing I would like to comment on is your illicit presentation of motor
reproduction. I could easily watch you fold your paper and follow instructions that way
but when it came to explaining it to other people I was lost. Because there were previous
folds in the paper, I could not go back and explain to them how to use those lines.
Because I am a visual learner, it was easier for me to follow. Had you just told us what
to do, I'm sure my paper would never see the light of a sailboat!