Six-year-old Sarah had been watching her older brother and sister in swim meets for several years. Sarah believed she was a good swimmer too, and eagerly entered her first swim meet shortly after she turned six. Bandura would say that ________ played a role in Sarah's desire to imitate her siblings.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bandura's theory of social learning emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, or the belief in one's ability to successfully perform a task, in motivating behavior. Sarah's observation of her siblings' successful swimming performances likely increased her belief in her own ability to swim well, leading to her desire to imitate them and compete in a swim meet. Genetic factors, punishment, and negative reinforcement are unlikely to have played significant roles in this scenario.

Six-Year-Old Sarah Had Been Watching Her Older Brother and Sister