Psychology and Learning

Running head : SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

Application of social learning theory in psychology research

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Application of social learning theory in psychology research

Article 1

`Explaining substance use among Puerto Rican adolescents : a partial test of social learning theory ' is an article by Holly Ventura Miller , Wesley G . Jennings , Lorna L . Alverez-Rivera and J . Mitchell Miller . The article is a 2008 publication in the Journal of Drug Issues Volume 38 , issue number 1 . In this study , Miller et al (2008 ) seek to use social

br learning theory to understand substance use among Puerto Rican adolescents as part of the larger Hispanic group . The importance of social learning is assessed through finding out the effect of differences in an individual 's description of substance use as compared to the description that peers have

This study is based on the view that most adolescents who have friends who are in substance abuse also become substance abusers . Perceptions about drug abuse also seem to be similar with those held by the peers Social interactions of the youths therefore seem to play a big role in learned behavior and perceptions . Miller et al (2008 ) have reviewed considerable literature on social learning theory more so the aspect of differential association in acquisition of socially unacceptable behavior . A cross-cultural application of social learning theory forms the center of this study where a group (288 youths ) of Puerto Rican adolescents is chosen as the study sample . This study specifically focuses on how peer and personal...