4.1.6/7 - SLT

Question 1

The main features of social learning theory,
including: observation, imitation, modelling and
vicarious reinforcement.

Answer 1

• Learning can occur by observation, imitation, modeling, vicarious reinforcement
• SLT suggests people learn by observing others and copy the actions
• Social learning theory was Bandura’s development of the behaviorist approach. He argued that classical and operant conditioning couldn’t account for all human learning and that there were important mental processes that live between stimulus and response
• Reinforcement is motivational and people are more likely to imitate behavior if they are motivated to do so due to the possibility of reward
• Learning can occur by observation, imitation, modeling and vicarious reinforcement
• Behavior is modeled by a role model, the observer identifies with the role model. Behavior is then observed and noted, behavior is imitated and so it is learned – these are steps in observational learning
• The role model can be live or symbolic

Question 2

SLT stages - ARRM

Answer 2

• attention – to the role model and the behavior being modeled is important. The end dividual must notice the behavior and pay attention to it
• Retention – of observed behavior is important. The multi store model suggested that memories are lost if not rehearsed and in that way stored in the long-term memory
• Reproduction – is where the modeled behavior is carried out. Once it’s in the memory, the behavior can be imitated if it’s physically possible to reproduce the behavior
• Motivation – is the incentive to imitate which gives a reason to want to copy the role model. Depends on the reinforcement for reproducing the behavior which is linked to operant conditioning as rewarded behavior is more imitated

Question 3

Vicarious reinforcement: x4

Answer 3

• reinforcement can occur through others being reinforced it’s connected with observational learning as we learn through others mistakes or successes
• Vicarious reinforcement – a person works hard because a colleague has been rewarded for hard work
• Vicarious punishment – a person does not park in a particular place because they have seen someone get a parking ticket
• Vicarious extinction – people stop doing something because they have seen that other people are not rewarded for doing it

Question 4

strengths

Answer 4

• supporting study – Bandura , results showed…. (1965) therefore vicarious reinforcement took place as the children learned behavior through observation and then imitated when they saw that the role model was rewarded
• The theory explains human behavior and has application, results showed… The four TV or games violence may be copied by children so these sorts of films are only shown on TV after 9 o’clock

Question 5

weaknesses

Answer 5

• weakness of Bandura - validity
• SLT sets entirely on the nurture side of the nature nurture debate and ignores e.g. the fact that evolutionarily demands may have favored certain features overtime and other biological influences on behavior. Therefore it’s an incomplete explanation as in biological evolutionarily terms, children may have learnt to imitate their role models to learn survival instincts