Which of the following best captures the Bandura concept most central to social cognitive theory?

• A. Observational learning
• B. Reciprocal determinism
• C. Vicarious learning
• D. Self-efficacy

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is that people acquire new behaviors by watching others and noticing the outcomes of those behaviors. Bandura’s social cognitive theory centers on learning through observation and modeling, and this is captured by vicarious learning. By observing how others act and what happens to them—rewards, punishments, or lack of consequences—we internalize patterns and skills without direct practice. Classic demonstrations, like the Bobo doll studies, show children imitating actions after watching a model be reinforced or punished, illustrating how observed consequences guide imitation. While observational learning describes the same general process, vicarious learning emphasizes learning from others’ experiences and consequences, which is a core mechanism of social cognitive theory. The other concepts—reciprocal determinism and self-efficacy—are important parts of the framework but describe the broader system and motivation, rather than the primary learning mechanism itself.