Children’s Behavior: Bandura’s and Skinner’s Theories

Analyze Skinner’s theory and Bandura’s observational learning using the case example.

It is often said that young children are sponges, soaking up everything they experience. Bandura’s theory emphasizes learning through observation and modeling. Skinner’s theory emphasizes operant conditioning through the use of reinforcements and punishments. Let’s pretend your student, Juan, is copying a behavior that he has seen someone else doing. Come up with Jaun’s scenario, then discuss how you would react according to Skinner’s theory. Remember, if we want him to REpeat the action, we REward him with a REinforcement. Punishments, in theory, will cause the behavior to decrease or cease.