Albert Bandera Social Learning Theory

The Maidu are a tribelet of the Mechoopda, that are indigenous to the Northern California central valley region. Prior to 1848 and the colonization of miners and rancherias, the Maidu roamed the lands south of what is now known as Chico. They lived, hunted, and gathered within a 6 to 12 mile radius, of what was later known as Chico Rancheria (see map). Possibly 260,000 aboriginals lived on the land. Bean reports that the aboriginal population of California was six times the national average. Much of the population was depleted, 20 years before 1848 due to disease, explorers and trappers claimed land along the California river. The depletion of the natives due to malaria and smallpox made it hard for the natives in and around Chico Arroyo

Albert Bandera argues that prejudice is not something people are born with. His theory describes how attitudes and values are learned, rather than something that has always been embodied. In Social Learning Theory: A Framework for Discrimination, Lizabeth Barclay argues that the theory mainly operates through two key areas. Association is the first of the two components. This is when individuals learn to connect a particular ethnic group with negative areas such as crime, violence, or poverty. This can be observed through many discriminatory acts inflicted upon Native Americans in the Chico area and throughout the entire state of California. Countless acts of negative association can be seen on an almost daily basis, clearly having an impact regarding the overall mistreatment of Native Americans to this day. The second area to Bandera’s theory is reinforcement as this component deals with society, and how discriminatory words and actions are extended throughout time. The reinforcement that he describes here can be both negative and positive. When a child is greeted with smiles and affection from their parents when they share their toy, that would be the experience of positive reinforcement. Unfortunately, instances of negative reinforcement are frequently reenacted, for example, Native Americans are commonly compartmentalized as low-income workers who predominantly live on reservations. This reinforcement, connected with association, has always been a stigma that have surrounded Native Americans within the United States, and is a key sociological factor in the overall discrimination of the