The social learning theory was put forward by Albert Bandura, and it tends to emphasize on previous approaches about classical conditioning which involves mixing a certain biological stimulus with a neutral stimulus (Eelen, 2018) and operant conditioning which involves rewarding and punishment (Blackman, 2017). The philosopher also added some details claiming that between the reception of stimuli and response, there is a mediating process. He also added that learning is based on observation of the other people who are similar to them. This essay will focus on how a given case study is related to the theory of social learning and how the patient can be helped on this basis.
Paul is a boy who is diagnosed with autism and has a problem speaking to other people, and his interactions are poor. According to the case study, he was admitted in an intervention school to enhance his speech but was not pleased with the place and turned out to be aggressive to most of his tutors. When he is admitted to an autism center, he seems comfortable, and a tremendous improvement is noted. Based on the social development theory, a child copies people who are similar to them in doing things. Placing the children, an intervention center had a negative impact on him since most of the children were not like him. In the autism center though, the boy could interact with other children who have a similar disability. He, therefore, feels that he fits in and is free to interact with others (Ryan & Desi, 2000).
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In socializing with other people, Paul may also learn to interact with people. On seeing other children either being rewarded or punished, Paul learns which actions are right or pleasing to other people. The improvement will make him livelier and enable him to have more friends. The theory also claims that the child takes into consideration the results of their actions which allows them to decipher what is right or wrong. The idea by bandura – mediation is composed of four major steps. They are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation (McLeod, 2016). In the case of Paul, taking him to an Autism center enhanced his motivation. Motivation is the will to perform a particular act. The condition is enabling for him to do so as he is guided accordingly ad he seems happy in the institution unlike in the intervention institution. Motivation is crucial in brain development. The above study offers a general view of how Paul’s situation is related to the social development theory.
References
Blackman, D. E. (2017). Operant conditioning: an experimental analysis of behaviour . Routledge.
Eelen, P. (2018). Classical conditioning: Classical yet modern. Psychologica Belgica , 58 (1).
McLeod, S. (2016). Albert Bandura | Social Learning Theory | Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American psychologist , 55 (1), 68.
