Origins of the Social Cognitive Theory
The Social Cognitive Theory was made famous in 2001 by Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura. He introduced his refined idea to mass communication in a journal article he wrote, stating that the theory could be used to analyze how symbolism is able to influence human thought, affect and action. [1]
Despite the fame coming to SCT in 2001, it was originally theorized in 1941 by Neal E. Miller and John Dollard with the publication of their book Social Learning and Imitation Theory. They explained of their theoretical four factors that contributed to learning: drives, cues, responses, and rewards. One driver that they mentioned was social motivation, especially imitativeness. By imitating observed actions, the observer would solidify the aforementioned learned action and would be rewarded with positive reinforcement. [8]
"Social Cognitive Theory is based on the concept of reciprocal determination. The way in which people interpret their environment, and their personal factors, which can affect their behavior, their behavior affects their personal factors, which can affect their environment, and so on." [1] Basically, it's how and why we do what we do when we do it. We learn by watching and observing as opposed to trying and failing.
Despite the fame coming to SCT in 2001, it was originally theorized in 1941 by Neal E. Miller and John Dollard with the publication of their book Social Learning and Imitation Theory. They explained of their theoretical four factors that contributed to learning: drives, cues, responses, and rewards. One driver that they mentioned was social motivation, especially imitativeness. By imitating observed actions, the observer would solidify the aforementioned learned action and would be rewarded with positive reinforcement. [8]
"Social Cognitive Theory is based on the concept of reciprocal determination. The way in which people interpret their environment, and their personal factors, which can affect their behavior, their behavior affects their personal factors, which can affect their environment, and so on." [1] Basically, it's how and why we do what we do when we do it. We learn by watching and observing as opposed to trying and failing.