According to Albert Bandura, what is a key mechanism through which people learn?

Bandura's theory emphasizes that a key mechanism through which individuals learn is through observation and imitation, a concept he refers to as social learning. This approach highlights that people can acquire new behaviors and knowledge simply by observing others, without the need for direct experience or reinforcement.

For instance, when someone sees a model (such as a parent, peer, or media figure) demonstrating a specific behavior, they can learn how to execute that behavior themselves by observing the outcomes of the model's actions. This social learning process allows individuals to absorb and replicate behaviors, which can influence their own behavior in significant ways.

In contrast, trial and error involves direct experience and experimentation, which is less reflective of Bandura's emphasis on social aspects of learning. Similarly, while logical reasoning and reinforcement are important in the context of learning theories, they do not capture the essence of Bandura's social learning theory, where observation is the central mechanism.