Who is credited with the social learning theory that emphasizes learning through observation and imitation?

The social learning theory is credited to Albert Bandura, who emphasized that individuals learn behaviors, norms, and values through observing and imitating the actions of others. Bandura's theory highlights that learning can occur not just through direct experience but also through the influence of social models, which can include parents, peers, media figures, and others within a society. His famous Bobo doll experiment demonstrated that children would imitate aggressive behavior modeled by adults, illustrating the significant impact of observational learning.

The theory also introduces concepts such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation, which are crucial for effective learning through observation. This multifaceted approach sheds light on the importance of social environment and the contexts in which individuals learn, expanding the understanding of how behaviors are acquired beyond traditional conditioning methods.

Other figures mentioned, such as B.F. Skinner, focused more on behaviorism and operant conditioning, which involves learning through reinforcement and punishment, without the strong emphasis on imitation. Albert Einstein is renowned for his contributions to physics and theory of relativity, while Carl Rogers is known for his work in psychology and humanistic approaches, particularly in counseling and therapy, rather than learning theories.