BANDURA SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY ON CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING

The social learning theory proposed by Albert Bandura is exclusively revisited as conceptual basis for the learning method of conversational skills training. This theory defines that the human development and functioning result from a reciprocal triadic relationship between internal stimuli, external stimuli, and behavior. Observational learning is, thus, governed by four interdependent processes: attention, memory, behavior and motivation. The exposure to, and learning and use of modeled patters of thought behavior, which are “universally” available, lead observers to transcend the bounds of their immediate environment, developing themselves and exploring choices and paths. Rua 5 de Outubro (Pólo B), Apartado 7001. 3046-851 Coimbra, e-mail: cmelodias@esenfc.pt Carlos Melo-Dias & Carlos Fernandes da Silva www.sp-ps.pt 102 Considering individual’s skills as being abstraction and symbolic representation, vicarious learning (“learning by observing the others”), prediction, self-regulation, selfreflection and self-efficacy, social learning is first considered as a process of transmission of rules to generate and transform behaviors.