Trudy makes an obscene gesture in class, and the teacher punishes her severely.Other students in class observe both the gesture and the punishment.Based on social cognitive theory, what can we guess about what those students have learned and how they are likely to behave in the future?

Question

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Social cognitive theory suggests that people learn not only by direct experience but also by observing the actions of others and the consequences of those actions. In this case, the students have learned how to make the gesture by observing Trudy, but they have also learned that such behavior leads to severe punishment. This knowledge makes them unlikely to repeat the behavior in class, as they would want to avoid the same negative consequences.

Trudy Makes an Obscene Gesture in Class, and the Teacher