Albert Bandura
Albert Bandura was a prominent psychologist known for his significant contributions to the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of social learning and cognitive theory. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia and completed his graduate studies at the University of Iowa, where he focused on learning theory. Bandura is best known for his groundbreaking Bobo Doll experiments, which demonstrated how children can learn behaviors through the observation of adults, showcasing the impact of social learning.
In 1953, he joined the faculty at Stanford University, where he later became a full professor and chair of the psychology department. His influential works include "Aggression: Social Learning Analysis," "Social Learning Theory," and "Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control," among others. Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasizes the role of cognition in behavior regulation and motivation, introducing concepts such as vicarious learning, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. His research has fundamentally shaped psychological theory and practice, underscoring the importance of cognitive processes in learning and behavior.
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Subject Terms
Albert Bandura
Canadian-born professor and psychological scientist
- Date of birth: December 4, 1925
- Place of birth: Mundare, Alberta, Canada
- Died: July 26, 2021
- Place of death: Stanford, California
Type of psychology: Cognition; motivation; social psychology
Bandura became internationally recognized for his study of how beliefs are formed and how they influence behavior and motivation.
Life
Albert Bandura attended rural elementary and high schools staffed by resourceful and encouraging teachers, and he attended college at the University of British Columbia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1949. Intrigued by the work of Kenneth Spence, he went to the University of Iowa to pursue his graduate degrees in psychology, studying under Arthur Benton. He received an MA in 1951 and a year later earned a Ph.D., focusing his attention on learning theory. Following graduation, he took a postdoctoral position in Kansas at the Wichita Guidance Center.
In 1953, Bandura began teaching at Stanford University in Northern California, becoming a full professor in 1964 and serving as chair of the psychology department in 1976 and 1977. He was named David Starr Jordan Professor of Social Sciences in Psychology. Throughout his teaching career, he wrote many books; his most notable contributions are Aggression: Social Learning Analysis (1973), Social Learning Theory (1977), Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory (1985), and Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control (1997). He was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, president of the American Psychological Association and Western Psychological Association, and honorary president of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Bandura’s work on social cognitive theory is at the core of his prominence. In this theory, cognition plays a central role in the regulation of and motivation for behavior. Its key concepts include vicarious learning, symbolic thought, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, self-reflection, and self-regulation. His arguments suggest that learning comes from more than trial and error. His emphasis on the importance of cognition as a motivational force to behavior was a major step forward for psychological theory and practice.
Bibliography
Bandura, Albert, et al. “Impact of Family Efficacy Beliefs on Quality of Family Functioning and Satisfaction with Family Life.” Applied Psychology: An International Review 60.3 (2011): 421–48. Print.
Evans, Richard I. Albert Bandura, the Man and His Ideas—A Dialogue. Westport: Praeger, 1989. Print.
Ferrari, Michel, David K. Robinson, and Anton Yasnitsky. “Wundt, Vygotsky, and Bandura: A Cultural-Historical Science of Consciousness in Three Acts.” History of the Human Sciences 23.3 (2010): 95–118. Print.
Maddux, James E. Self-Efficacy, Adaptation, and Adjustment: Theory, Research, and Application. New York: Plenum, 1995. Print.
Miller, Neal E., and John Dollard. Social Learning and Imitation. 1941. Reprint. New York: Routledge, 2003. Digital file.