Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Who is credited with developing Social Learning Theory?

1. Sigmund Freud

2. Albert Bandura

3. Carl Rogers

4. B.F. Skinner

The correct answer is: Albert Bandura

Social Learning Theory is primarily associated with the work of Albert Bandura, who proposed that learning occurs not only through direct experience but also through observation and imitation of others. Bandura emphasized the role of cognitive processes in understanding how individuals learn socially. His famous Bobo doll experiment illustrated how children could learn aggressive behaviors through observation of adults, underscoring the impact of modeling on behavior. Bandura's theory also incorporates key concepts such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation, which are essential for learning to take place in a social context. This framework has provided valuable insights into various fields, including psychology, education, and counseling, informing approaches to behavior modification, skill acquisition, and social development. In contrast, the other theorists mentioned—Freud, Rogers, and Skinner—focused on different aspects of psychology, such as psychoanalysis, humanistic approaches, and operant conditioning, respectively, which do not center on the observational learning mechanisms that Bandura highlighted.