Social learning theory provides a view that cognitive processes play a prominent role in the acquisition and retention of new behavior patterns. Transitory experiences leave lasting effects by being coded and retained in symbols for memory representation.
Much human behavior is developed through modeling.
From observation of others, one forms a conception of how new behavior patterns are performed, and on later occasions this symbolic construction serve as a guide for action. One learns from response consequences - one seeks to gain benefits and avoid punishment. One learns appropriate behavior from observing the effects of one s own actions rather than from examples provided by others. Behavior is not controlled by immediate consequences, rather it develops by processing and synthesizing feedback information from sequences of events over long intervals. In this model, expectation of personal mastery affects initiation and persistence of coping behaviors.