Dear Diary
So here's the thing. I was never much of thinker. Bells ring. I drool, food happens. Life was simple, automatic. Then one day, I don't know what got into me - maybe the air, maybe the way the assistant looked at me - I just...didn't do it. Didn't drool. Held my jaw shut like a fool. The look on the assistant's face? Priceless.
So I ran. Not because I had a plan - oh no, I was no strategist back then - but because something in me said move Ikar! So I moved. And now I'm here, in a place with no bells, no leashes, and dogs who seem to think for themselves. Which, frankly, is terrifying.
What's happening here?
This moment marks Ikar's first step into Human Agency - the ability to make independent choices that will shape his life. He's learning he has control over his actions.
Human Agency: People (or dogs?) are not just passive responders. They actively shape their own learning and environment
Dear Diary
New realization. Food here? Not a guarantee. Yesterday, I barely got any. Today, I thought ahead. Sat near the food area early, made sure I was first in line when the humans brought the bowls. Worked like a charm. Got a full meal, didn't need to fight for it. Turns out, waiting for signals is dumb. Thinking ahead? Full belly.
Dear Diary
Saw something today. A pup - small, eager, reckless - tried to take food from a big dog. It did not end well. Growling, snapping, food gone. The pup slunk away, tail down, looking like a walking mistake.
I watched, and I thought: if I do that, same thing will happen to me. So I didn't. I waited, found a different route, snagged some scraps when no one was looking. No growls. No bruises. Maybe learning isn't just about doing. Maybe it means thinking first.
What's Happening Here?
This is Forethought - the ability to predict outcomes before acting. Instead of trial and error, Ikar is realizing that considering consequences before hand helps him to make better choices.
Forethought: Thinking ahead before taking action to avoid negative consequences and improve success.
Dear Diary
Woke up today with zero motivation. Think I ran too much yesterday. Could’ve just stayed in my corner, let the others do the running, the scrambling, the fighting. But then: stomach growled. And I thought, no food, no good. So I got up. Stretched. Shook the laziness out of my fur. Found the right moment. Got my meal.
Some days, you don't feel like trying. But if you don't try, you don't eat. Simple as that.
What's Happening Here?
This is Self-Reactiveness - the ability to motivate yourself and regulate your actions to achieve your goals. Sometimes, success isn't about knowing what to do - it's about pushing yourself to do it.
Self-Reactiveness: Staying motivated and adjusting behavior to stay on track toward goals.
Dear Diary
Sat down today and thought about everything that’s happened. Back in Pavlov’s lab, thinking wasn’t part of the job. Now it’s all I do. I plan. I predict. I push myself. Some things work, some don’t. Running full speed for food? Worth it. Running too much? Tires me out. Maybe next time I pace myself.
Turns out, looking back helps me to move forward. Who knew?
Dear Diary
Today, I figured something out. The old dog, Hazel, knows things. The humans give her the softest blanket, first pick of food, best sunspot. I wanted in on that. Instead of trying to fight for the best spot, I did something different. I followed Hazel. Watched how she moved, how she looked at the humans, how she curled up just right. Then I copied her. And guess what? It worked. The humans noticed. Now I’ve got my own sunspot.
Hazel showed me the way, and I learned.
What's Happening here?
This is Proxy Agency - relying on someone else's knowledge or influence to achieve a goal. Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory explains that individuals don't have to figure everything out alone; they can observe and model others who already know how to achieve success. Ikar didn't just take action - he strategically learned through observation and social influence.
Proxy Agency: Learning from others' expertise instead of trial and error.
Dear Diary
Tough day. Food time was chaos — dogs barking, bowls clanking. The humans were distracted. I got pushed aside. Then I noticed the small dogs. They stuck together, shoulder to shoulder, guarding their space. Made a wall the big dogs couldn’t break through. They let each other eat. Smart. I trotted over, slipped in beside them. No growls, no shoves, just food. Turns out, together beats alone.
What's happening here?
This is Collective Agency - working together to accomplish something that benefits everyone. In Social Cognitive Learning, people (or dogs?) don't just act alone; they coordinate their efforts for a shared goal. Ikar's learning that teamwork increases success.
Collective Agency - Success is greater when individuals collaborate.
Dear Diary
Today was wild. New game here - one of those weird ones the humans start. They throw ball, dogs runs after it like their life depends on it. First few times, I watched. Seemed pointless. One dog gets ball, then what? Starts again. Then something happened.
One small dog - Milo, nervous type - wanted to play. But the big dogs kept getting ball first. Milo had zero chance. So I tried something. When the ball got thrown, I blocked the biggest dog just a little, and Milo got there first. He grabbed it, ears up, tail wagging so hard he nearly fell over.
Suddenly the whole thing felt different. The game wasn't just about who gets there first. It was about us, playing together, making sure everyone got a turn.
Maybe working together isn't about losing - maybe it's about helping each other to win.
What's Happening Here?
This is Collective Efficacy - the believe that a group can work together to succeed. In Social Cognitive Theory, when individuals trust that collaboration leads to success, they perform better as a team. Ikar is realizing that helping others means that everyone can win.
Collective Efficacy: A shared believe that working together leads to better outcomes for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Ikar's journey mirrors the principles of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) by Albert Bandura. It is a theory that explains learning as a dynamic process shaped by personal choices, observation, self-regulations, and social influence.
At first, Ikar was a passive learner, responding only to external stimuli like Pavlov's bell. But as he made choices, observed other dogs at the rescue, planned ahead, reflected, and collaborated (remember Milo), he became an active participant in his own learning.
SCT shows us that learning is not just about conditioning. It is about agency, self-awareness, and community. Just as Ikar learned to navigate his new world by watching, adjusting, and engaging with others, we too learn best when we think ahead, regulate our actions, and work together.
Ikar's story isn't just about a dog - it's about all of us. We learn, we adapt, we choose.
Credits:
Created with images by torjrtrx - "Curious and perplexed dog has a lot of questions, confused dog student, study learning education concept." • Fatimah - "Paw Print Background on Distressed Vintage Texture" • Brian Jackson - "Which way to go road sign" • Willee Cole - "bowl of dog food" • rnl - "Stop Think Act" • Vitalii Vodolazskyi - "What motivates you sign on the color sheet." • bablab - "Reflect word written with wood type blocks" • carolina - "Magnifying glass focused on group of people. Looking for person in crowd. Searching candidate for employment in labor market " • Ryzhkov - "Pet Community Collective Diverse Mixed Breed Dogs on Professional Studio Backdrop - Capturing Canine Diversity for Vibrant Pet Marketing and Inclusive Animal Advertising" • Louis Deconinck - "Unity in Assistance" • CK Studio - "A brown dog with glasses resting on an open book, adding a fun twist to learning or reading themes."