Observational Learning Essay

Sears, Maccobly, and Levin (1957) reworked Freud’s theory within the framework of learning theory. In particular, the notion of parenting as related to qualities of warmth and control were made explicit and directly linked to sex differences (Eckes & Trautner, 2000). They stated that mothers provide warmth and emotional support whereas fathers provide discipline and control (Eckes & Trautner, 2000). As a result, children’s sex-role identification within the family was thought to take place through modeling and reinforcement (Eckes & Trautner, 2000). This approach was later modified by Mischel in 1966 and known as the Social Learning Theory (Eckes & Trautner, 2000). This theory emphasized modeling or observational learning (Eckes & Trautner, 2000). Observational learning refers to the process of acquiring behaviors by observing

This theory was developed by Alice Eagly in the 1980’s as an effort to understand the causes of sex differences and similarities in social behavior (Eagly, Wood, & Diekman, 2000). The theory evolved from the content and ideas that people have about women and men and the scientifically documented sex differences in social behavior and personality between the sexes (Eagly, et al., 2000). This theory argues that the beliefs people hold about the sexes are derived from their observations of the roles performed by men and women and thus reflect the sexual division of labor and gender hierarchy of the society (Eagly, et al., 2000). Therefore, this theory focuses on two social structural aspects of the gender relations; a gendered division of labor and gender-based hierarchy, in which men generally have more status and power than women (Rudman & Glick, 2008). The theory suggests that these structural factors determine the content of socially shared beliefs about men and women as well as observed gender differences in personality, skills, and behavior (Rudman & Glick,