Introduction
In the course of examining learning theories, I shall discover and respond to difficulties encountered by Mike, a 28-year-old who recently finished his four-year imprisonment for selling narcotics. Being a methamine and heroin addict, Mike’s journey is complex, including familial estrangement, academic excellence, athletic accomplishments, and deep-seated fear of failure. He is now admitted to a young adult residency program where he hopes to live a clean life, setting limits and overcoming the self-imposed pressures he puts on himself. This paper will put to work the two distinct learning theories, Skinner’s behaviorism and V. Bandur’s social cognitive theory, to map out the particularities of learning experiences of Mike, shedding light on some relevant advice on remedial activities based on those frameworks.
Understanding Learning Theories
Skinner’s Behaviorism
Basic Assumptions
Skinner’s Behaviorism takes for granted the assumption that environmental stimuli mold behavior, and its main working orientation lies in what is visible, i.e., observable actions rather than the sense of mind or inner mental processes. It declares that humans learn through reinforcement or punishment, for which the ones becoming successful get more chances of repeating success, and those resulting in negative consequences do not recur (Diller, 2021). This theory attributes the role of environment first and then behavior, arguing that environmental conditions are responsible for an individual’s development. Skinner’s concept does not advance thinking about the internal cognitive processes that may affect an individual but is just concerned with the behavior shown by the individual.
Strengths
Skinner’s Behaviorism has one strength – the involvement of the ratio of aspects of behavior in quantifiability. Hence, results achieved in experiments are precise, i.e., exactly noticeable, measurable, and controllable. The theory’s major support is operant conditioning, an approach where behaviors are changed through reinforcement, which gives the students concrete tools for behavior modification. Skinner’s Behavioral theory helps trace down interrupted elements and actualize desired behaviors through understanding the influence of antecedents and consequences of daily behaviors, which guides designing tailor-made interventions. This understanding contributes many practical dimensions to the theory, which can be applied in fields like education, psychotherapy, and organizations, thus signaling better efficiency in evoking behavioral changes.
Limitations
However, human behavior is a subject that has certain other limitations than the behaviorist approach. The strict trait theory, which focuses only on outward actions, completely ignores internal cognitive and emotional processes and other subjective factors that play an important role in influencing behavior. Such over-simplification can pose the problem of completely understanding the multi-faceted human actions involving the cognitive apparatus- decision-making and problem-solving (Leeder, 2022). Further, the theory’s deterministic standpoint, focusing on the influence of the outside environment, can thus compete with one’s agency and the significance of internal personal drivers. Omitting mental operations from the theory detracts from its explanatory capacity.
Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986)
Basic Assumptions
Bandura’s social cognitive theory, put forth in 1986 as a wider, cognitively-based alternative to behaviorism, brings cognitive processes into the discussion of learning processes. The theory puts forward that people don’t only learn through first-hand experiences but also through observational learning, as obtrusive watching at the behavior, its outcomes, and the success of others offers guidance that determines one’s learning. At the core of Bandura’s theory is self-efficacy – the belief in one’s ability to successfully complete a certain action to achieve the desired results (Fuente et al., 2023). In contrast to behaviorism, Social Cognitive Theory deals with internal cognitive components: focus, memory, and inspiration that influence the choice of man’s behavior. In particular, it highlights reciprocal determinism, one of the key factors of the dynamic process driving the learning process through a constant intertwinement of personal, behavioral, and environmental components.
Strengths
One of the merits of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory comes from its all-around perspective, including cognitive involvement and behavior-based factors. Recognizing that practices of modeling and imitating line up with learning and gathering skills is a part of this theory, it is possible to describe more broadly how people get new actions. The SI theory greatly enriches the learning experience by turning self-efficacy into the primary motivation factor to consider among personal interests, goals, and learning abilities (Nickerson, 2024). Social Cognitive Theory’s significant flexibility is that it deals with issues far beyond controlled environmental settings, making this theory relevant to real-life situations, especially in education, psychology, and health sectors.
Limitations
Nevertheless, the Social Cognitive Theory of Bandura has also not been free of limitations. The consequential issues, like the complexity of introducing cognitive processes and their practicalities in empirical research, can make the theory difficult to operationalize and measure. The theory, together with the behavior, may also not exactly capture the biology or physiology of the behavior, and it consequently can be of limited value when trying to explain such behavior in specific contexts. The concept of self-efficacy, though beneficial, can be overrated with the dilemmas of other factors affecting the performance of an activity (Fuente et al., 2023). The theory tends to focus on cognitive mechanisms and may overlook the influences of external environmental characteristics. As a result, a cognitive psychological theory could work only up to a certain limit without considering the situational context of a behavior.
Application to the Case Study
Skinner’s Behaviorism
Skinner’s Behaviorism can be demonstrated in Mike’s case through a closer check as well as bearing in mind the effect of the environment and the mechanisms of reinforcement on the aspect of development and persistence of his addiction. At the age of six, Adderall was prescribed to Michael to address the symptoms of hyperactivity. The initiation of drug use took place at a young age. (Diller, 2021) The type (main of drugs), as other environmental factors do, induces euphoric intoxication in users, encouraging further drug use. This, together with stress and peer pressure, reinforces the emergence of drug-seeking behaviors in the person. Skinner’s theory explains the key role of using drugs in Mike’s addiction through operant conditioning. It shows that the use of substance is positively reinforced, increasing chances for him to seek it again.
Moreover, the theory helps us predict appropriate behavior per environmental contingencies. Mike’s interventions can hopefully revolve around changing these contingencies sets, probably through making a reward system to encourage maintaining sobriety (Leeder, 2022). Utilizing the environmental stimuli and results of drug use as Skinner’s Behaviorism model provides, this framework is a concept for understanding and predicting the behaviors of people with an addiction, then offering ideas about how to run recovery programs.
Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986)
Utilizing Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework to understand Mike’s situation allows for a detailed evaluation, namely in that it considers habitual behaviors as well as the cognitive processes that underpin the development of addiction. Among other things that have made Mike understand the model of substance use is the fact that he grew up in an environment where different kinds of addictive behaviors surrounded him (Fuente et al., 2023). The theory talks about the attribution in learning from observed behaviors and the significance thereof in attention, retention, and reproduction. This suggests that Mike’s early exposure to pro-drug behavior may be a reason he absorbed some of those qualities, leading him to substance use. Having this view in mind, self-efficacy concerning Mike and his addiction case can easily be understood. His fear of failure and exaggerated demands for excellence previously may ruin his self-esteem, and he won’t be able to give a hand in fighting drug abuse and asking for help.
Predicting future behaviors can take into account the point that providing feasible and convincing information to Mike [about] the relation between changes in self-perception and the appearance of positive role models could reinforce the self-efficacy of Mike which could be a determining factor of his ability to pick up new healthier coping mechanisms. For Bandura’s social cognition statement, the category of reciprocal determination has been introduced, which aims to describe the links between personal factors, behaviors, and the environment as the appropriate interrelationship. A look at Mike’s future involves the understating of inherent interconnectivity- how changes to any of these factors can affect each other (Nickerson, 2024). Concepts of this theory can be used in designing behavioral interventions aimed at boosting Mike’s self-efficacy through cognitive behavioral techniques, showcasing positive role models, and changing his environmental influences.
Intervention Analysis
In Mike’s case, his problem may be handled from the standpoint of the Social Cognitive Theory of Bandura with the help of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT targets the cognitive and behavioral elements of addiction, which are central to the theory of reciprocal relationships between the personal, behavioral, and environmental aspects. In the context of addiction, CBT is aimed at recognizing and correcting negative thoughts and beliefs, improving self-confidence, and supplying strategies to manage triggers and cravings (Nickerson, 2024). Through investigation of the cognitive processes leading to Mike’s fear of failure and perfectionism, CBT can reshape his irrational beliefs and teach him to replace them with functional behaviors. According to Bandura, enhancing self-efficacy through therapeutic interventions is supposed to be more sustainable, as individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to struggle with the challenges they encounter.
Differently, a treatment rooted in the Behaviorism of Skinner, like contingency management, may focus on changes and reinforcement only of environmental contingencies for engagement in drug rehabilitation. Such action represents an impactful way to impact behavioral change through positive reinforcement. However, it might not target the internal cognitive processes which are making a person to be addicted (Leeder 2022). The fact that the behaviorist rehabilitation methods based on reinforcement of positive behavior ignore the mental processes and self-opinion of Mike may lead to missing the opportunity to bring about long-term change after empowerment of the ability to cope and the feeling of effectiveness. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, presents an all-encompassing aid to the treatment of Mike’s multidimensional challenges. Therefore, it may occasion durable, substantial life changes in Mike’s pursuit of a drug-free and fulfilling life.
Conclusion
Finally, I have examined Mike’s situation through the perspective of Skinner’s behaviorism and Bandura’s social cognitive theory, which can be used to gain a better understanding of how addiction develops and what can be done about it. While behaviorism concerns observable behaviors due to environmental stimuli and reinforcement, Bandura’s theory enriches the understanding by involving cognitive processes, self-efficacy, and model learning. As a researcher, choosing a social cognitive theory-informed intervention that not only recognizes the biological aspect of addiction mentioned in the scientific literature but also embraces the holistic nature of cognitive-behavioral therapy is recommended. This approach, comprising the bi-directional linkage between personal, behavioral, and environmental influences, is more versatile and complex for facilitating people like Mike to be free from dependence and live an independent and meaningful life.
References
Diller, J. W. (2021). B. F. Skinner and behaviorism. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science, 495–500. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_1306
Fuente, J., Kauffman, D. F., & Boruchovitch, E. (2023). Past, present, and future contributions from the social cognitive theory (Albert Bandura). Frontiers Research Topics. https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-8325-3296-6
Leeder, T. M. (2022). Behaviorism, Skinner, and operant conditioning: Considerations for Sport Coaching Practice. Strategies, 35(3), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2022.2052776
Nickerson, C. (2024, February 2). Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-cognitive-theory.html
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