What does Bandura's social learning theory emphasize?

• A. Genetic determinism
• B. Observation and imitation
• C. Language acquisition
• D. Sensory motor interaction

Answer: (B)

Learning happens by watching others and then imitating what they do. Bandura’s social learning theory shows that much of what we learn comes from modeling: paying attention to a behavior, remembering it, being able to reproduce it, and having the motivation to imitate, which can come from the observed consequences for the model. He showed that watching someone be rewarded or punished can influence whether we imitate that behavior, even without personally experiencing those outcomes. In classrooms and everyday life, this means children pick up social behaviors by observing peers and adults, especially when those behaviors are reinforced or valued.

This emphasis on observing and reproducing others’ actions is what makes the observation and imitation option the best fit. The theory isn’t centered on inherited traits (genetic determinism), nor is it primarily about language development or purely sensorimotor exploration; it’s about learning through social models and cognitive processes involved in imitating what is seen.