Albert Bandura - SMART Goal Setting and Social Learning Theory

Psychologists are responsible for studying human behavior. One of the most popular psychologists who had contributed so much in psychology is Albert Bandura.

Have you heard of the social learning theory? Are you familiar with the Bobo doll experiment? If yes, then you must have heard of Albert Bandura. He is famous for his contributions in the social learning theory and for his very own study on Bobo doll.

Below are just some of the most important things you should know about this brilliant man, Albert Bandura:

- The roots
Albert Bandura was born on December 4, 1925 in the simple town of Mundare. His parents were both immigrants. His father came from Poland while his mother originally lived in Ukraine. There are six of them in the family and luckily for him, he was the only son of his parents.

- Education
After graduating from their town's high school, Bandura decided to take up a degree in psychology. He was greatly fascinated by the way human beings behave and react to different stimuli that he wanted to find out the answers to his many questions. He took his degree at the University of Iowa where he graduated in 1949. Then he proceeded to taking his Doctor's Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Iowa where he finished in 1952.

- Employment
Bandura began his career as a psychologist by teaching at Stanford University in 1953. He is highly acclaimed for his theories and studies in the field of psychology that in 1974 he became the president of the American Psychological Association.

- Accomplishments
Albert Bandura received many honors and awards for his contribution in psychology. He was awarded the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Scientific Contribution in 1980 and the prestigious Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology by the American Psychological Association in 2004. Aside from these, he received twelve honorary degrees from respected universities like the University of Salamanca, Indiana University, University of New Brunswick, University of Rome, University of British Columbia and many others. Moreover, he also authored several psychology books like Adolescent Aggression, Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis, Social Learning Theory, Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory, and Self- Efficacy: The Exercise of Self Control.

The works of Albert Bandura are indeed remarkable that even psychologists today often use his studies as a guide on how to understand and analyze their patients' behaviors.