Question

Define the following four terms in your own words, and describe how they relate to learning: 1) Social Learning, 2) Self-efficacy, 3) Pygmalion Effect, and 4) Operant Conditioning. Minimun 100 words.

Answer 1

1) Social learning: It was coined by Albert Bandura in 1960s. As per this theory learning happens by observing peers and people around - their behavior, language, attitude, style etc. This theory suggests that human beings learn cognitively in a social context through observation as compared to reinforcement. E.g. Kids learn slang by observing their peers using slang. This theory is a combination of cognitive learning theory which is learning based on psychological factors and behavioral learning theory which is learning based on responses to environmental stimuli. There are four factors to learning – retention, observation, motivation and reproduction. Thus, social learning theory has integrated approach to learning.

2) Self-Efficacy: This is another concept introduced by Albert Bandura. According to him self-efficacy is one’s self belief in his/her ability to accomplish in a given task or succeed in a task. Self-efficacy is a great factor in identifying how human beings approach to tasks, goals and challenges. Self –efficacy plays an important role in learning; it is task specific, domain specific, a parameter to judge confidence. As per Bandura’s research, people who have high self-efficacy tend to make wiser decisions and put great effort in making those decisions successful. It also determines how they confront or handle failures. It also enables how people feel about themselves.

3) Pygmalion Effect: Pygmalion effect is essentially a self-fulfilling prophecy. As per this theory, it states that performance of a student or pupil is highly impacted by the teacher’s expectations. Positive expectations leads to positive performance and negative expectations lead to negative performance. This effect can be seen to change the learning climate around students, faculties who believe in the abilities of their students motivate them and set expectations accordingly, students in these settings engage in more learning behaviors to demonstrate positive performance. Students as per this effect seek learning opportunities. It is believed that success is a result of facilitation and encouragement provided by the teachers in difficult times.

4) Operant Conditioning: Also known as instrumental conditioning. As per this theory, learning takes place through rewards or punishments for a behavior. It tries to establish a relation between behavior and consequence of behavior. This theory can be an excellent tool for young children who can learn through reinforcement and punishment for certain behaviors. E.g. A child learn that touching a hot stove would hurt him or child will get candy if he opens the candy box. As per this theory, human beings or animals tend to repeat behaviors which bring pleasant consequences or rewards and minimize behaviors with unpleasant consequences or punishments.