Piaget Vs. Bandura: When Learning Theories Collide

Albert Bandura's Social learning theory is modified from traditional learning theories. Based on B. F. Skinner's work on stimulus response relationships, the theory implies that learning is to be no different among infants, children, adults, or animals. Imitation or observational learning is the keystone to the process, where learning occurs when individuals observes and imitate others' behavior. According to Bandura, "these components include: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation (Bandura, 1977).

According to Bandura, attention is the first component of observational learning. Learning process will not need to much benefit if the individual cannot perceive what is being observed. Since the first stage of development is from infancy to about two years, Bandura's ideals states that the child must first perceive an observation to mimic it. An example, of imitating behavior in relation to health education would be the amount of food, a young child sees a parent eat. This example can be proved by Bandura with his idea of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to an individual person's perception of an ability to perform a behavior; collective efficacy refers to a group's shared belief in its capability to organize and execute actions required to achieve goals