How can social learning theory be improved?
Social learning theory is an extension of behaviourism. Behaviourism assumes that we learn by associating certain stimuli (events or things) with each other, or by associating stimuli with reward / punishment. Social learning theory extends this by taking into account that we may see other people being rewarded or punished, and adapt our own behaviour accordingly. However, social learning theory and behaviourism does not take into account that people have thoughts. It assumes that we have no free will over what we do and only respond according to what we have previously been exposed to. It also concerns itself solely with observable behaviour (i.e. not what goes on inside your head). Social learning theory can therefore be improved by attempting to explain where our thoughts come from, and how they affect our behaviour.
