Albert Bandura proposed the social learning theory to explain how people learn through observing and imitating others. The theory emphasizes observational learning and how it shapes human behavior. It includes concepts like vicarious learning, self-reinforcement, self-efficacy, and the four elements of observational learning: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Bandura's Bobo doll experiment demonstrated how children will imitate aggressive behaviors they observe in adults. The social learning theory is applied in education by teachers modeling appropriate behaviors for students to learn from and helping students build self-efficacy in their academic abilities.