Albert Bandura. Faith in man

The most characteristic feature in Albert Bandura's theory is the way of learning through observation and repetition of the actions of others. The philosophical concept of evil is associated with destructive behavior and human aggression. In the history of mankind there have been many disputes, whether the evil in man is innate or acquired.

But still, studies show the influence of environmental factors on the aggressiveness of a person. Such factors include upbringing, punishment, social isolation, humiliation, the prohibition of emotional manifestations, population density. The latter factor is especially relevant nowadays in the conditions of large cities and large population density. Also, the problem of culture and education as a whole, the destabilizing influence of the surrounding world, remains topical.

Albert Bandura: Biography

In the small Canadian village of Mandela, on December 4, 1925, a boy was born. This is Albert Bandura. The only son surrounded by five sisters who were older than him. After graduating from school, he left to work in Alaska, participated in the rehabilitation of the highway. A year later Albert Bandura entered the university. After completing his studies in psychology, he was awarded a bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia. In 1951 he received his master's degree at the University of Iowa, and a year later he also defended his doctoral dissertation there. While studying at university, he met his future wife, Virginia Varnes. Later, she gave birth to two daughters, Mary and Carol.

After graduation, Albert Bandura taught at Stanford, where he received a diploma of a professor. In 1969, his first book, Principles of Modification of Behavior, was published.

Learning theory

According to the theory of Albert Bandura, a person has always been aggressive, and for a long time will remain so. But what makes it so? Theories of human aggression can be divided into four categories: 1) congenital or hereditary aggression; 2) activation of aggression by external stimulants; 3) emotional and cognitive process; 4) the manifestation of society.

In the period from the 40s to the 70s, the studies of Dollard, Miller and Bandura's work led to the continuation of the theory of imitation and aggression. So there was a new scientific term, which was created by Albert Bandura - the theory of social learning.

In 1974, Alberta Bandura was elected president of the Association of Psychologists of America, and he was also president of the Association of Psychologists of Canada.

The theory of Albert Bandura says that in order to teach children a completely new behavior, it is not enough just punishment and encouragement. New behavior arises through the simulation of behavior patterns. One such manifestation is the process of identification, in which feelings, thoughts are borrowed. Thus, learning takes place, through observation and copying.

The influence of the observer observed on the behavioral traits

According to personality theory, Albert Bandura believes that a pattern of behavior can be acquired through observation of others or through personal experiences. There are three possible effects observed on the observer: a new reaction is acquired through visual observation of the model; Through the contemplation of the consequences of the model resulting from the action; Weakening of previously acquired reactions in the process of observing the behavior of the model.

Analysis of aggression

From the point of view of Albert Bandura, it is possible to regulate previously acquired reactions, through the actions of models. Trying to show in practice the principles of aggressiveness research previously formulated, Albert Bandura conducted the work "Aggression: Analysis from the Social Learning Theory". His theory assumes an optimistic view of human destructiveness. He identified the problem of behavior with destructive potential and the factors that determine the realization of the acquired behavior.

According to Bandura, frustration is one of the most important factors that affect human aggressiveness. In other words, the worse the dealing with a person, the more aggressive his behavior.

The person is able to acquire new reactions, by observing the model. But the implementation of these acquired reactions depends on personal experience. The development of this problem has not yet been fully understood. The main attention was paid to imitation, as one of the factors of aggression, but the studies did not give an unambiguous result.

The Radical Behaviorism

Albert Bandura sharply criticized behaviorism, since he denied the determinant of human behavior emerging from the cognitive process. Also, behaviorism implies that an individual is not an independent system that can influence his life.

Albert Bandura believed that the causes of human functioning should be sought in the interaction of the environment, behavioral and cognitive spheres. Thus, the situational and predisposing factors are two interdependent causes of human behavior. The double orientation of interaction of surrounding circumstances and open behavior shows that a person is both a producer and a product of his environment. In the socio-cognitive theory, a model of interdependence is described, where affective, cognitive and other particular factors and actions are presented as interrelated determinants.

Possibilities for changing the behavior of individuals

Recognizing the importance of reinforcement from the outside, Bandura still does not see this as the only way to change human behavior. People are able to change their behavior by observing the behavior of other models. The results of the experiments showed that a person can expect the consequences of his behavior and, depending on the expected consequences, regulate his behavior. Thus, it shows that the individual's mental capabilities allow foreseeing and changing behavior.