Theory Assignment

THEORY ASSIGNMENT (2005

INTRODUCTION

Theories are abstractions from the real world to give and show the existing relationship between or among a variables or a given phenomenon . Thus , they are like map used in showing the direction of the known from the unknown . In social sciences , scholars had propounded diverse theories in explaining different social different situations Thus , there are theories for individual behaviors why they behave in a certain way at a given situation , social psychologists have theories in explaining how an individual behavior is influenced by the group he

br belongs to i .e , how he / she tend to behave in a group setting . Hence varieties of theories are abstracted from the real world situation to give explanation to a particular need in a given social setting

This write- up tends to study the Social Cognitive theory and the Social learning Theory . Here , the historical background , key components application and the limitation of the theories would be discussed

ORIGIN AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIES

The Social learning Theory precede the social Cognitive Theory . In fact , the Social Cognitive Theory is generated from the Social learning Theory . The Social learning Theory has a rich historical background darting back to the late 1800 's . Social Psychologists made immense contribution to the development of the theory . According to Crosbie- Brunnett and Lewis (1993 , the earliest contribution of learning theory was from William James in 1890 whose notion of `social self ' laid the foundation for the modern social learning theory tenet of the interaction between personal factors and the environment . Kurt Lewis (1890- 1947 ) further developed the work by extending Gestaltist 's field theory and initiating a shift in psychology from a focus on the individual to a focus on processes between individuals . Miller and Dollards 's publication of Social Learning and Imitation in 1941 officially launched the unit of the study in the behavioral field . Here Social Learning Theory principles were incorporated into reinforcement punishment , and extinction and imitation model . The book give an explanation on how humans and animals model observed behaviors , which then became learned through environmental reinforcements . In addition the publication has it that human behavior was motivated by drives , and one organism 's responses could serve as stimuli for other organisms . The work of Miller and Dollard expanded on the reciprocal relationship between environment and behavior , while incorporating the beginnings of internal mediating variables . Thus , the work came with flood of different versions of Social Learning Theory . Subsequently work on the behaviorist field changed from a focus on the development of theoretical models , to an emphasis on conducting empirical studies (Woodward , 1982

As already mentioned Social Cognitive Theory stemmed from the social learning theory . According to Stone (1998 , the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT ) has its origins in the discipline of psychology , with its early foundation being laid by behavioral and social psychologists . Albert Bandura , a social psychologist has contributed immensely to the development of Social Cognitive Theory . In fact he officially launched the Social Cognitive Theory in...