Bandura's Social Learning Theory & Social Cognitive Learning Theory

Abstract

Albert Bandura is known as the father of cognitive theory. He was born December 4, 1925 in a small town in northern Alberta, Canada, located approximately 50 miles from Edmonton. Bandura’s early education consisted of one small school with only two teachers. (Stokes, 1986). Albert Bandura soon became fascinated by psychology after enrolling at the University of British Columbia. He had started out at biological sciencesmajor, his interest in psychology formed quite by accident. He was working nights and commuting to school with a group of students who arrived much earlier than his other courses started. ( Pajares, 2004). In 1949 he graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowain 1952. After he finished his PhD because of his famous studies and searches Bandura was elected as the president of the American Psychological Association in 1974. He was also elected as the outstanding lifetime contribution to Psychology, AmericanPsychological Association in 2004. Among all scholars Bandura was known as the father of the Cognitive Theory. (Bandura, 2006a).