While social learning theory demonstrates that behavior, whether positive or negative, can be taught or adapted through observation, it is essential as a social worker that you employ additional relevant practices and social work theories that account for other factors that may play a role in a client’s behavior.

The big difference between behaviorist and cognitive learning perspectives is that behaviorism is more about explaining things through ones outward behavior or something that can be observed. Cognitivism is more based around cognitive processes like decision making and memory.

The most common (and pervasive) examples of social learning situations are television commercials. Commercials suggest that drinking a certain beverage or using a particular hair shampoo will make us popular and win the admiration of attractive people.

Social emotional learning competencies include self awareness, social awareness, self management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. These characteristics need to be developed for children and young adults to be successful, not only in school but also in life.

Social learning takes place through interaction with other human beings, through such learning processes as imitation, identification and role learning. It is by means of social learning that internal controls in the individual such as conscience, the self-concept and the social roles are established.

Social cognitive theory (SCT), used in psychology, education, and communication, holds that portions of an individual’s knowledge acquisition can be directly related to observing others within the context of social interactions, experiences, and outside media influences.