Which theory emphasizes learning through modeling and observed rewards and punishments?

• A. Psychoanalytic Theory
• B. Social Learning Theory
• C. Drive Reduction Theory
• D. Constructivism

Answer: (B)

Learning happens by watching others and then mimicking what you see, especially when you observe rewards or punishments given for those actions. This is the core idea of Social Learning Theory, developed by Albert Bandura. It explains that people can pick up new behaviors without direct practice, simply by modeling others and by experiencing or observing reinforcement—being rewarded or punished—vicariously. A classic example is the Bobo doll experiments, which showed children imitate aggressive behavior after watching models who were rewarded or punished for it, illustrating how observed outcomes influence imitation.

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on unconscious motives and early experiences; Drive Reduction Theory centers on internal drives and the need to maintain homeostasis; Constructivism emphasizes actively constructing meaning from experience. Taken together, the emphasis on learning through modeling and observed consequences makes the Social Learning Theory the best fit.