Ralf Schwarzer’s article outlines the development of social learning theory in the USA during the 1960s as a reaction to both the dissatisfaction to behaviourism and also the need to consider so-called ‘mediating’ or ‘process’ variables that occur between the stimulus and response.
In other words, psychologists such as Rotter and Bandura have both demonstrated, through independent research, that our behaviour is not only influenced by rewards but also by our expectancies and incentives (i.e. cognitive factors). We also learn by observing other people behave and seeing the consequences of their behaviours (i.e. vicarious learning). Finally, we also have self-perceptions about our own competence or ability to perform these behaviours (i.e. self-efficacy).
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