7.3

A key point made by Bandura is that there are many processes occurring when a person is learning be observing a model or using the social cognitive theory.  The first process is the attentional process.  Bandura said, "People cannot be much influenced by observed events if they do not remember them" (p. 1).  Bandura touches on two important points that were also thoroughly discussed by James, attention and memory.  These two points are interwoven to such an extent that one cannot exist without the other according to many of the readings we have read throughout the course.  However, is it possible to pay attention but fail to remember or to remember something despite a lack of attention?  Is there a way to measure such actions?

Bandura's second process is the representational process.  This is also tied closely to memory and is how modeling is coded into the memory.  Sensory receptors intake modeling as they would any other information and code it into memory to be utilized, referenced, and connected to later. 

Translational processes are the behavioral component of modeling theory.  Translation occurs when people take something modeled in put it into practice.  For example, my son copies many things we say at this age.  He often uses the same inflection that we use when he repeats us.  This is translation.  He took in something we said in a certain context, committed it to memory, and then carried it out as a behavior.

Motivational processes are the most confusing to me.  Bandura describes them as "processes that regulate whether people act on what they have learned observationally" (p. 2).  I believe that this is related to James discussion of the will.  I believe that Bandura would say that we have a choice about whether or not to translate modeling into behavior.  If we translated everything we observed into behavior, what would we be but copying robots?  I think Bandura is saying that we have a choice about what to use and not to use from what we observe other humans doing.