Question

Explain which source of social learning (e.g. family, peers, school) you think has the greatest impact on adolescents’ behavior. How would social learning theory suggest improving delinquent behavior through this source?

Answer 1

Individuals are more likely to adopt a modeled behavior if the model is similar to the observer and has admired status and the behavior has functional value.
Despite the criticisms, however, his larger theory is still widely applied by psychologists seeking to understand the roots of anxiety and the importance of role models, and to glean insight into purchasing decisions.
Social learning theory is at the root of many cultural and psychological questions including the influence of nature vs. nurture on human personality and behavior, the perpetuating cycle of domestic abuse, and the widely debated link between violent media and violent behavior. In recent years, some psychologists have called Bandura’s original findings into question, casting his experiments as biased, poorly designed, or even unethical.
The highest level of observational learning is achieved by first organizing and rehearsing the modeled behavior symbolically and then enacting it overtly. Coding modeled behavior into words, labels or images results in better retention than simply observing.