Social cognitivism, developed by Albert Bandura, emphasizes that learning occurs through the interaction of personal factors, behavior, and environment—a concept Bandura called reciprocal determinism (Bandura, 1986). One of its central ideas is observational learning, which means that people can learn new behaviors simply by watching others.

Example in practice: In a classroom, when a teacher consistently models respectful communication, students often begin to mirror those behaviors in group work. Similarly, peer modeling can be powerful—when one student demonstrates a solution to a math problem, others often adopt similar strategies.

Insight: This highlights that learning is not only an internal process but also a social one. Observational learning explains why role models, both positive and negative, strongly influence behavior.

Possible limits: A challenge of social cognitivism is ensuring that students are exposed to the right models. If negative behaviors are reinforced or go unchecked, learners may imitate those instead. Teachers, therefore, play a crucial role in guiding attention toward positive examples and creating environments that reinforce constructive learning.

Reference:

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.