A History of Doctor Albert Bandura - Research Paper Example

? Psychology: Albert Bandura His Theories, How They Apply, How They Are Effective The following researched information includes five specific pieces of information that give a history of Dr. Albert Bandura including where he grew up, his early years of education and this college education. The information also gives further research pertaining to his internship at the University of Iowa that has lead to his love of psychology. Further detailed information goes into his Bobo experiment and his “Social Cognitive Theory.” Finally, we looked at his modeling theory obtained by the Bobo experiment and how it leads to reinforcements of self-image. Keywords: “Social Cognitive Theory”, Modeling, Bobo experiment. Psychology: Albert Bandura His Theories, How They Apply, How They Are Effective Introduction: Albert Bandura was born on December 4, 1925 in Alberta, Canada. He came from a Polish background and his parents were wheat farmers. He attended a small local school of 20 students that only had two teachers. He went on to college at the University of British Columbia where he finished with a B.A. From there he attended the University of Iowa where he obtained his doctorate in 1952. He spent a short time at Wichita Kansas Guidance Center in a clinical internship; there his curiosity of learning and behaviors became reality. He has had a long teaching career at Stanford University where he is still a professor today. (Moore, 1999) His career has been extensive beginning with his “Social Learning Theory,” recently named the “Social Cognitive Theory.” (Moore, 1999). He has received many distinguished awards as well as written many books. He wrote “Social Foundations of Thought and Action,” published in 1986 which supports his social cognitive theory. He has written a total of nine books relating to psychology, and in 1998 he received the Thorndike Award for Distinguished Contributions of Psychology to Education from the American Psychology Association. (Moore, 1999). The following information will show his psychological theories and how they apply to everyday solutions that allow us to think feel and behave effectively. His Theories, Applied and Effect: Dr. Bandura’s most recognized experiment is the Bobo doll experiment. Background shows he became interested in aggression in children while studying at the University of Iowa. Albert Bandura believed aggressive behavior that is reinforced by family members was the best source of behavior modeling. Which means children use the same aggressive mannerisms as their parents when dealing with others. He felt that in order to control aggressive behaviors in children it had to be diagnosed and treated early in the child’s life. “We should not be subjecting people to treatments and then, some years later, trying to figure out what effects they have. We should test treatments before we embark on widespread applications.” (Isom, 1998, p.2). He felt that children learn to act aggressively by watching violent acts of adults, pointing out especially family members. He uses a boy who watches his father hit his mother as an example. He contends that he will probably become an abusive parent or husband as well. (Isom, 1998, p.2). He attempted to prove this theory with his Bobo doll experiment in 1961. (psychology.about.com, 2012, p.2). He contended that aggression was comprised of three components. The first deals with how aggressive sectors of behavior are developed. Second, what makes people act aggressively? Third, what determines if they will continue to be aggressive in the future? The experiment required the kids to watch a model fervently attacking a blow up doll (Bobo doll with weight in bottom). The kids watched the video of the model hitting the doll, with a mallet, knocking it down, sitting on it and punching it in the face as well as kicking it. When the kids finished watching the video, they were placed in a room with toys they liked; however, they could not touch them. The children retained what they saw. They were observed to become agitated and frustrated. (Isom, 1998, p.3). The kids were placed in another room with the same toys as in the video. The motivation aspect began. The conclusion of Bandura’s experiment as well as other similar experiments proved that 88 percent of the kids copied the aggressive actions. He brought the same children back eight months later and discovered that 40 percent of the kids again copied the same aggressive behavior in the Bobo doll experiment. (Isom, 1998, p.3). Bandura did many experiments varying the study. The models sometimes were rewarded or punished, sometimes attractive or less attractive. He even did a film with a live clown and a woman beating him. When the kids were put in the room with the live clown they punched, kicked, hit and so on with little hammers. These experiments established that there were steps involved in the modeling theme. (Boeree, 2006, p.2). 1. Paying attention is important in learning anything and the opposite is true as well. Example: if you are sleepy, drugged, sick, hyper, etc. you will not learn even if you are distracted. Applying to everyday life, a college student has to get enough sleep and pay attention without distractions in order to do well. Stimuli plays a roll in this as well, and its up to the instructor to keep the student interested as we are drawn to models more like ourselves. Bandura uses TV as an example and its effect on kids, which can be a distraction or reinforcement depending on the type of viewing. (Boeree, 2006, p.2-3). 2. A person must be able to remember what you are viewing. From this you comprehend and store the information in the form of images and language. College students use this many times to retain study information recalling images you have seen in class of something a professor has said. (Boeree, 2006 p.2-3). 3. You need to reproduce the behavior or translate the image into an actual action. Boeree uses an example of watching an Olympic skater. If you can skate you can duplicate the action and improve your performance; however, if you can’t skate you can’t reproduce the action at all. (Boeree, 2006, p.2). He also states that when you practice imitations your behaviors improve. Therefore, you can also use your imagination for self-improvement as well. He contends that athletes do this by imagining their activity in their mind prior to the activity. This could be considered using “psych”ology to enhance the performance. (Boeree, 2006, p.3). 4. There still has to be motivation before you do any of the three above actions. He contends that traditional reinforcements, the thought of reinforcements, or recalling model reinforcements need to be present for motivation. How would a college student apply this to everyday life? Your motivation lies in the end result when you receive your degree. If you have received promised reinforcements in the past you also expect to receive them in the future. If you have a role model that you have observed, you can expect to model yourselves after that role model. (Boeree, 2006, p.3). Bandura also points out that traditionally punishments do not work well. Positive support lends motivational initiatives. (Boeree, 2006, p.3). “Unless people believe that they can bring about desired outcomes by their actions they have little incentive to act or to persevere in the face of difficulties.” (des.emory.edu, p.8). Bandura goes into more depth and describes self-regulation, which he contends is being responsible for ones own behavior. He feels this is what drives the human personality. 1. Self-observance is how we look at ourselves, our own behavior, and how we feel about it. 2. How do we judge ourselves? What standard or comparison do we use as a model? He uses “etiquette rules” as an example. Another example would be ones rules of religious beliefs or what you were taught to believe as a child. It gives you a standard to live by. Or using another example could be a goal you have set for yourself in reading which could include a book a week, two books a week and so forth. (Boeree, 2006, p.3). This includes competition with others as well as ourselves. 3. What is your self-response? How did you do compared to your standard, and did you reward yourself? This includes punishments for negative responses as well. Did you feel proud of what you did or were you ashamed? (Boeree, 2006, p.4). Psychology presents a realistic concept that self-regulation pushes to understand; a persons self-concept or “self-esteem” is very important. If a person is given positive self praise and self-reward, you will have a pleasant self-concept or “high self-esteem.” However, on the other side of the spectrum if you are forever failing to meet your goals and standards and you are prone to punish yourself, you will have a low opinion of yourself or a “low self-esteem.” (Boeree, 2006, p.4). An important point Bandura is trying to make here is that most behaviorists commonly view reinforcements as being effective and punishments are seen as problems. It’s important to know that the same is true with self-punishment. (Boeree, 2006, p.4). Such things as a superiority complex or delusions of grandeur, apathy, boredom, and depression can be seen as unhealthy personalities. These can lead to escape in drug or alcohol use, television fantasies, or even suicide. Bandura’s research continues in relation to self-control therapy and modeling therapy dealing with psychological disorders. (Boeree, 2006 p.5). Conclusion: We have briefly looked at Dr. Bandura’s history, his education and some of his psychological theories. We have supported his theories with examples and shown how they can apply and can be effective in anyone’s life. “Albert Bandura has had an enormous impact on personality theory and therapy.” (Boeree, 2006, p.5). His social learning theory has had a direct relevance to criminology. He retains a straightforward style that makes good sense to most people as well as an action problem solving approach that gets things done. (Boeree, 2006, p.5). References: Albert Bandura Social Learning and his Bobo Doll Experiment. 5:27 minutes. Web. 27 April 2012. http://youtu.be/06fTnszze_Q/. Albert Bandura Biography (1925-). 2012. Web. 27 April 2012. http://psychology.about.com/. Albert Bandura Biographical Sketch. 27 April 2012. Web. 27 April 2012. http://des.emory.edu// Boeree, C. George, Dr. 2006. Albert Bandura 1925 – present. Web. 27 April 2012. http://webspace.ship.edu/. Isom, Margaret Delores. 30 November 1998. Theorist – Albert Bandura. The Social Learning Theory. Web. 27 April 2012. http://criminology.fsu.edu/. Moore, Amanda. 1999. Albert Bandura. Web. 27 April 2012. http://muskingum.edu/. Read More