Question

How could cognitive and social learning theories explain the development and persistence of the client undesired behavior(smoking) In particular,discuss the role of latent learning,learned helplessness, vicarious reinforcement and/or vicarious punishment as applicable.

Answer 1

Learning is a lifelong process of acquiring new knowledge or modifying existing knowledge like our beliefs, attitudes, functioning models, etc. In cognitive theory of learning, the emphasis is given to cognition of the situation or world. It is like how we understand situation through sensory inputs like audiovisual, tactile sensation, olfactory sensations. Social learning theory is related to observational learning through modeling. In social learning theory, individuals learn behaviors by observing others and possible consequences faced by those behaviors (Bandura). If the behavior observed is resulting in positive consequences like reward, then such behavior is practiced by an individual, and if behavior observed resulted in negative consequences like punishment, then such behaviors are avoided by an individual. Example: If a school students observe one of their peer is being rewarded for helping elders, then practice of helping elders may be cultivated by entire class.

In some cases, individual may learn undesired behavior such as tobacco or alcohol abuse by observing other people as models. Here, the individuals may perceive undesired behaviors of others are socially acceptable and provides identity to one who practices it. Example: Watching the advertisement about cigar by popular actor may produce positive image in the observer and they might perceive smoking is manly or macho behavior, hence indulge in such practices. Also if family member is having habit of smoking, then observing individual may take this as model and start practicing it regardless of any reward or punishment.

Latent learning happens when an individual learns some behavior but does not practice until there is a need. Example: An individual may observe one of the family members using tobacco, but not start smoking immediately and only cultivates this habit when economically or socially independent. Here, the observer learns about smoking but does not cultivate until such environment is created. If smoking behavior took place immediately after observing an elder in family, then other family members may try to stop such behavior, hence such behavior develops when there is no such hindrance to behaviors.

Learned helplessness refers to individual's inability to refrain or avoid some behavior even when that particular behavior is known as causing hazard. This phenomenon usually enforces persistence of behaviors. Example: An individual knows smoking is injurious to health, but still unable to quit smoking.

Vicarious reinforcement and punishment are opposite to straight reward or punishment observed. Example: If individual observes others being punished for not following traffic rules, then individual may cultivate adherence to traffic rules. If an individual observes others are praised for philanthropy, then donating the needy may be practiced by observer. Similarly, if tobacco abuse is considered by majority of people in society as style factor, then individual may indulge in such behavior even knowing it is injurious to health.

We can say that environment, reinforcement, social acceptance may influence in development of undesired behavior while learned helplessness may result in persistence of such undesired behavior.