Social Learning for Cognitive Development

Social learning theory by Bandura is developed based on the belief that learning is a cognitive process that occur in a social context which can happen purely through direct observation.  To explore social learning theory for my Leadership and People Management program, I have used the following three types of modeling stimuli by Bandura:

• Live model - an actual person is demonstrating the desired behavior

• Verbal instruction - an individual describes the desired behavior in detail and instructs the participant in how to engage in the behavior

• Symbolic - modeling occurs by means of the media, including movies, television, Internet, literature, and radio. Stimuli can be either real or fictional characters.

I have explored the above stimuli and the following are my findings.

LPM Support Team Lesson 1 - 7th Jan 2014

For the first lesson, I used the Symbolic modelling stimuli i.e. the use of video clip.  In this clip, Gandhi was seen speaking to a large audience selling out his principle of non-violence and how to use them to oppose the South African government’s new laws.  Prior to showing the clip, learners were asked how Gandhi inspired a Shared Vision in this clip.

Learners watching a video on Gandhi's speech addressing the audience with regards to General Smut's new law.

I had incorporated the Think-Pair-Share technique for this activity.  After watching the video, learners are to write their observations of Gandhi's speech in inspiring his vision of non-violent resistance.

Learners writing their observations of the Gandhi's speech

Learners sharing their observations with their peers.

After sharing with their peers, learners are encouraged to share their observations with the rest of the class.  The following are some of the points highlighted during the sharing session:

• Gandhi is seen as someone pious - I asked the learner to quote exactly what Gandhi said or did in the video for him to make such claim.  At this another learner mentioned that matters concerning religion was brought up by Gandhi when he said, "General Smut's new law claim that only Christian wedding is valid".  I informed the class that my interpretation of that statement by Gandhi was simply an example of how the people of India during his time was oppressed by the South African government.  On hindsight, my learner might be right to his claim that this is one of the agenda to convert the Indians to Christians.  Therefore, the statement by Gandhi has a religious connotation.
• Gandhi made his people feels that he was in this battle together with them when he repeatedly using the words "us" and "we" to refer to himself and the Indian audience. 
• Gandhi wanted to show the colonialists that they are trustworthy as they "have no secret".
• Gandhi's value of non-violent resistance is obvious when he responded to a demand to "kill a few officials before they disgrace one Indian woman" by saying "in this cause, I too am prepared to die but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill".  What follows is the following monologue that inspires the audience:

"Whatever they will do to us, we will attack no one, kill no one.  But we will not give our fingerprints, not one of us.  They will imprison us, they will fine us.  They will seize our possessions.  But they cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them.  I am asking you to fight their anger, not to provoke it. We will not strike a blow. But we will receive them.  And through our pain, we will make them see their injustice. And it will hurt, as all fighting hurts. But we cannot lose. We cannot.  They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body not my obedience."