Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura (born in 1925) is one of the most influential researchers in modern psychology.

He developed several theories that he included in his extensive theory of social learning. Among his greatest contributions, he highlighted the influence of the learner on the human environment around him. His theory was opposed to the behavioral postulates of authors such as B.F. Skinner or John B. Watson.

Phrases, famous quotes and reflections by Albert Bandura

In today’s article, therefore, we have set out to pay tribute to this researcher who had such an influence on the theories of human learning.

Throughout these famous quotes, Albert Bandura explains the cognitive keys to understanding the way in which learning processes develop and their final result: knowledge.

1. People who believe they have the power to exercise some degree of control over their lives are healthier, more effective and more successful than those who do not have faith in their ability to make changes in their lives.

A sentence in which Albert Bandura tells us about the locus of internal control and its benefits.

2. There are countless studies on the negative spread of work pressures in family life, but few on how job satisfaction improves the quality of family life.

In this case, Albert Bandura emphasizes a very little researched aspect.

3. Moral justification is a defense mechanism we all use. Destructive behavior is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends. This is why most appeals against violent means often fall on deaf ears.

In this sentence, Bandura talks about the defense mechanisms.

4. People’s beliefs about their abilities have a great effect on those abilities.

If you think you’re good at something, you’ll keep trying to improve and, in time, you’ll probably be a real expert. A phrase that tells us about the Pygmalion Effect.

5. To achieve success, individuals possess a sense of self-efficacy, of fighting together to meet life’s inevitable obstacles and inequalities.

Self-efficacy is that feeling of being able to accomplish our goals. It is a skill that is intimately linked to the feeling of success and control.

6. We have developed a better understanding of everyday issues than the most famous of university professors.

A reflection that shows us how the passion for the knowledge of daily life is more powerful than the systematized study in a laboratory.

7. Psychology cannot tell people how they should live their lives. However, it can provide them with the means to effect personal and social change.

Why is psychology important? Well, maybe it doesn’t show us the way, but it does provide us with certain effective resources.

8. Learning is two-way: we learn from the environment, and the environment learns and changes thanks to our actions.

Another reflection on learning and how knowledge changes the human and physical environment.

9. Trusting yourself does not guarantee success, but not doing so guarantees failure.

A motivating sentence that is, perhaps, the most famous of the Canadian author.

10. Achievement is socially judged by ill-defined criteria, so one tends to depend on others to find out how one is doing.

It is a mistake to value our own achievements from the perspective of other individuals.

11. Fortunately, most human behaviors are learned by observation through modeling of other subjects.

We learn by observation, not by instruction.

12. Under certain environmental conditions, the kindest and most educated people can commit absolutely atrocious acts.

You know the experiment at Stanford Prison? Bandura explains this phenomenon so researched in social psychology.

13. Individuals are producers of their living circumstances, not just the product of them.

We have the ability to modify our environment.

14. Most of the images on which we base our actions are based on vicarious learning.

In this article, we explain what vicarious learning is.

15. It is ironic: talented people with high aspirations are especially vulnerable to feelings of failure even though they may achieve great success.

The higher the expectations, the higher the threshold from which we feel satisfied with what we have achieved.

16. We are more interested in the theories that explain failure than those that explain success.

Paradoxically, we are more attracted to knowing the negative phenomena.

17. A theory that denies that thoughts can regulate actions is not capable of explaining the complexity of human behavior.

This sentence by Albert Bandura is a frontal criticism of behaviorism.

18. People who see themselves as highly effective act, think and feel differently from those who are perceived as ineffective. The former produce their own future, rather than simply predicting it.

In this reflection he speaks of the locus of internal control.

19. Even remarkable performance achievements do not necessarily increase the perception of self-efficacy.

Although we achieve notable successes, self-efficacy is a virtue that is not reinforced by this type of environmental circumstance.

20. You can’t afford to be realistic.

An excess of realism anchors us to mediocrity.

21. Once established, reputation is very difficult to mutate.

If you have a label, it’s going to be really hard to change it.

22. People who have low self-confidence think that their achievements are due to external factors, rather than their own skills or abilities.

In this case it tells us about the external control locus.

23. Perceived self-efficacy predicts academic dropout.

One of the major causes of school failure.

24. The satisfaction that individuals feel about the activities they perform is influenced by a long list of self-evaluation elements and standards.

How we perceive success and self-fulfillment is less subjective than we might imagine.

25. Insecure people avoid social comparisons that threaten their self-esteem.

And perhaps for this reason they tend to isolate themselves and lavish less on social events.