Theories of Psychology in Group Work Research Paper

Psychology in Group Work

Learning Theory

There are many theories that describe the process of human development. Most of us have identified with the learning theory. The learning theory has been given credit because it makes sense. In this article, we shall discuss one theory, which the author developed in an educational setting. The focus is on Bandura who is the key theorist in his learning theory (Agnew, 2007). Behaviors are taken into focus in Bandura's learning theory. The theory is significantly useful offering techniques of teaching and modifying of behavior. In the following sections, examples are going to be provided. This study will begin with clarification of the basic concept of the specified theory. This will be followed with a discussion of the theory's practical use: both classroom and clinical application (Bandura, 2006).

The learning theory of Bandura

The learning theory of Bandura provides that we learn from one another through modeling, imitation, and observation. This theory has often been referred to as link between cognitive and behaviorist learning theories. This is because the theory has incorporated motivation, attention, and memory. Bandura provides suggestions, arguing that the learning process must be perceived through observation and modeling behaviors, emotional reactions, and attitudes. Based on his theory, some of the significant features that insinuate learning are as follows:

The features and attention of the observer (level of understanding, interest, and reinforcement of the observer)

Organization and retention of mental association

Both mental and physical practice and exercise

Observed and experienced consequence or motivation by performers of the task

Physical capabilities

Clinical Applications

The learning theory has quite a number of clinical applications. One example of the clinical application is a person trying to overcome the challenge of phobia trying to offer help to another person suffering from the same disorder. Bandura experimented people who had snake phobia. Such people viewed others who disguised being afraid of snakes getting closer to them but knew that they were pretending.The participants who took part in this tried and to their surprise and managed to overcome their fears (Shaffer & Kipp, 2010).

Classroom Applications

Bandura has employed the theory to design activities meant for both infants and pre-school children. Children usually learn by examples. An infant will always strive to try what they see especially activities that are accompanied with rewards. When communicating with a toddler, one must ensure eloquence, deliberate words, and complete sentences. Infants always transform what they hear to verbal. If the environment of the child is covered with a lot of violence, this is what the child will grow up to be. This might justify the reason why the author suggests the need to monitor the amount of television content that a child is exposed to viewing (Toseland & Rivas, 2012).

The most important period in life is the infancy stage, which is very significant to the basic needs of the child before the child can learn new things. With this tactic, the child can focus his or her attention somewhere else such as productive activities rather than its own wants and needs. In Bandura's theory, he argues that before a child is ready to learn, their needs must be satisfied first. This argument supports point where he states that attention is a necessity in learning by example. When a baby's needs are met, it will be easy to allow them focus more on other activities. Learning outcomes are improved when the activities at hand are prioritized (Gang & Akers, 2006).

If infants are held, scared and left hungry, they will not be able to learn. There is a certain time during infancy when all the needs of infants are met. Infants usually require frequent sleep, love, food, and reassurance thus the planning of lessons for infants is very difficult. At this….....