John B. Watson's Social Learning Theory

This case study is about a boy named Allen, who is showing some questionable behavior. His mother is concerned about his mental health. His social patterns are irregular for his age; some of them being struggling to make friends, fitting in with his peers, and telling stories of violence, which is cause for concern for someone at his age. His mother is trying her best to be a good parent; even though she has a lot on her plate like taking care of two other kids, a full-time job and to top it all off she is a single parent. She is obviously trying to do her best for her child but with everything that is going on, it can have a major effect on Allen. His behavior links to a couple of theories I would like to mention that might shed some light …show more content…
Watson’s theory is called Behaviorism, which is a grand theory that studies observable behavior (Berger, 2015). An extension of that is made by a man named Bandura that is called Social Learning Theory, which “emphasizes the influence other people have on a person’s behavior.” (Berger, 2015). The problem that Allen is having might have an explanation in Social Learning Theory. The theory says everyone learns through imitation and observing. So Allen’s behavior might be a product of what he is observing around him. His mother might be so busy he has feeling of neglect and that might translate to the way he cannot make friends and fit in with his social peers. For the acts of violence and aggression, he hasn’t had an influence to teach him how to handle his emotions. When the other kids basically push him around to see his reaction, he has these angry outbursts. Since he does not have someone to teach him how to handle his anger, he found his own way to deal with his emotions. Allen needs someone to teach him how to deal with his emotions …show more content…
A father figure in his life could be exactly what he needs and maybe could explain why he acts the way he does. Fathers can have a lasting influence on their kid’s development social and emotional. They also can have a major influence on the kid’s skill development. Most male children look up to their fathers for some type of guidance, a type of guidance a mother might not be able to give. Interactions between fathers and their kids could play a big part in their development as a person, “Interactions between fathers and their sons and daughters that are playful, affectionate, and engaging predict later popularity in school and among peers…” (Raeburn, 2015). If Allen had that proper emotional support he might have a better handle on his emotions. But the influence of a father can vary because of the type of father. A stricter father would have a different influence compared to a father that is more supportive and loving. Overall Joanna being married could really benefit his well-being. Being a single mother is challenging and could really put a strain on him. “Mothers have only so much time available, and the time that she can devote to investing in her child’s wellbeing is reduced by the time that she spends at work, earning an income…” (Ribar, 2015). With all of Joanna’s responsibilities right now, her time to spend with Allen is seriously reduced making him feel neglected. Allen would be better if he