Bullying: Examining Social Learning & Observational Learning Theories - Essay Sample

Introduction

The social issue which I am going to view in the lens of social learning theory and observational learning theory is bullying. Bullying is a behavior which occurs mostly where there is an imbalance of power. The power may be physical or even social. The party which is bullying uses its position to coerce force or abuse the other party. The person who is bullied might be affected mentally, physically, or emotionally. Many people assume that bullying occurs only in schools, but it is not the case. Although it does not happen only in schools, this is the place where it is most common.28% of students who are from grade six to grade twelve have been bullied once or severely (Smith, 2018). Other places where bullying can take place include the workplace or in families. Currently, bullying is happening even in social media.

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Comparing

Social learning theory shows that new behaviors can be acquired through observing and imitating others. Learning occurs in a social context, and it is a cognitive process. There is no need for reinforcement for learning to take place; observation and direct instructions are enough. Observational learning theory also focuses on a situational context. The learner has to copy from a specific model. The bullies, therefore, see someone being harassed, and they copy the behavior later as it is. A behavior persists if it is rewarded regularly. Where the conduct is punished, it desists (Dukes & Clement, 2019). This theory, therefore, shows ways in which to deal with bullying. It shows that the behavior persists since it is not punished.

No one is born a bully. In both theories, the behaviors are acquired. The practice continues increasing in schools because the people who join the school are bullied, and in the process, they also learn the vice. To stop bullying, one has to deal with the current bullies. Punishing them will make others know and learn that it is not good behavior. Most of the time, the students who are mentally tortured usually wish for the time to come so that they can do to others the same. Peers look at what others are doing, and they find it ok, so they also become bullies.

Bullying can be stopped, even from homes. Whether the child acquired the social issue through social learning or observational learning, the people who are close to the child have the power to stop it. Learning does not happen in schools only. The family is the basic social unit where the child learns first. Children who are born in families with domestic violence are more likely to become bullies than those who come from peaceful families (Dukes & Clement, 2019).

Parents should understand that the child is learning from the immediate environment. They should, therefore, avoid behaviors which the child can copy. Parenting skills are essential, and abusive words should also be avoided. Children can also learn from the siblings. Parents should ensure that they punish any child who exhibits bullying behavior. Through this, others discover that bullying is not ok.

Contrasting

There is a slight difference between social learning theory and observational learning theory. Observational learning is a subset of social learning. While observational learning occurs through the learner copying the subject without asking any question, in social learning, there is asking of questions (Akers & Jensen, 2011). It is referred to as social due to the interaction of one or two parties for learning to take place.

In the case of my social issue, which is bullying, the learner if he is learning through social learning theory, he might ask a question. For example, a student might ask others why they are abusing those who are joining the school. In observational learning, one imitates, and he/she becomes part of those bullying others later.

To stop the social issue, those who are joining the school for the first time should have good role models from whom to learn from. Before they learn through observation, there is a need for someone who can interact with them well. Proper orientation in schools can be an excellent way to stop bullying.

In the workplace as well, there are many cases of bullying the new staff who joins. The Human Resource department is supposed to take the employees through a proper induction to ensure there is no harassment when the learner is trying to learn. Bad behaviors, for example, bullying, should always be punished. Communication is essential to ensure that proper learning takes place and hence avoid bullying (Akers & Jensen, 2011). The management should, therefore, ensure that there is a feedback communication system. Any cases of harassment should be reported and dealt with severely. When people see that a case of bullying is punished, then they will also ensure that they do not do the same.

Conclusion

Bullying has become common almost in every place, be it in schools, homes, and also workplaces. Sometimes the behavior continues to spread because those who join the institutions learn from others. They learn either through social learning theory or through observational learning theory. The two approaches are more of the same with the social learning theory having the learner asking questions. The learner gets the behavior from a model. Therefore, if the model stops the bullying behavior, the learner will not copy the social evil. Bullying should be punished so that those who have not yet started to bully others do not find anything good in harassment.

References

Akers, R. L., & Jensen, G. F. (2011). Social Learning Theory and the Explanation of Crime. Transaction Publishers.

Dukes, D., & Clement, F. (2019). Foundations of Affective Social Learning: Conceptualizing the Social Transmission of Value. Cambridge University Press.

Smith, P. K. (2018). Finding out about bullying and why statistics can be misleading. The Psychology of School Bullying, 17-33. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315516899-2