Which theorist is best described as social learning?

The concept of social learning is best exemplified by the work of Bandura, who emphasized the role of observation and imitation in the learning process. Bandura's social learning theory suggests that individuals can learn new behaviors and acquire new information by observing others. This can occur without direct experience or reinforcement; instead, individuals observe models (such as parents, peers, or media figures) and then replicate those behaviors, especially when they see that the model is rewarded or reinforced.

Bandura introduced key concepts such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation, which are essential in understanding how social learning takes place. His famous Bobo doll experiment illustrated how children could learn aggressive behaviors simply by watching adults interact with the doll.

In contrast, the other theorists mentioned focus on different aspects of learning and development. Pavlov is known for classical conditioning, Skinner for operant conditioning, and Erikson for psychosocial development stages, none of which specifically focus on the observational aspects central to social learning. This distinction emphasizes why Bandura is most closely associated with the concept of social learning.