5.5. Social Learning Theory Flashcards
Who started the social learning theory approach?
Albert Bandura
What did Bandura say about other theories?
Bandura agreed with the behaviourist learning theories of classical and operant conditioning HW, his SLT proposed that we learn through observation and imitation of others in a social context.
Modelling
In order for social learning to take place, someone must carry out the attitude or behaviour to be learned.
Two types of models:
A live model - an actual person
A symbolic model - someone in the media
Imitation
Research on imitation has shown that, unlike the relatively slow learning that takes place with conditioning, when a model is provided, whole patterns of behaviour can be rapidly acquired.
Key determinants of whether behaviour is likely to be imitated - characteristics of the model and the observers ability to perform that behaviour and observed consequences of the behaviour.
Vicarious Reinforcement
Bandura and Walters noted that children who observed a model rewarded for aggressive behaviour were much more likely to imitate that behaviour than children who observed a model punished for the same behaviour.
Imitation only occurs if the behaviour is rewarded rather than punished.
The concept of vicarious reinforcement suggests that individuals do not need to experience rewards or punishments directly in order to learn.
Identification
People are more likely to imitate people they identify with.
The Role Of Mediational Processes
SLT is often described as a bridge between behaviourist and cognitve theories as it focuses on how mental factors are involved in learning.
These mental factors interven in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.
Bandura identified four mental/meditational processes in learning
Learning of Behaviour:
Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered.
Performance of Behaviour:
Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether it was rewarded or punished.
Unlike traditional behaviourism, the learning and performance of behaviour do not need to occur together. They can be learnt, stored and then used at a later date.
Bandura Research Aim
To demonstrate that aggression can be learned though modelling.
Bandura Research Procedure
Aggressive model - kids played in a room while an adult hit and shouted at a BOBO doll
Non-aggressive model - played in a room while an adult played quietly
Control group - did not see a model
Bandura Research Findings
The children who saw the aggressive adult were more aggressive with the doll than the others
1/3 of the kids who observed the aggressive adult repeated the verbal responses
Non- aggressive model kids exhibited no aggression towards the bobo doll
In a follow up study, the aggressive adult was rewarded, kids were more likely to repeat the behaviour
One strength of the Social Learning Theory
Improves classical and operant conditioning by focusing on the importance of cognitive factors in learning.
At the core of SLT is the idea that human and many animals store info about the behaviour of others and use it to make judgements about when its appropriate to perform certain actions.
This is an improvement on classical and operant conditioning which produced an inadequate account of human learning.
A problem with social learning theory
Over reliance on evidence from lab studies.
Most of Bandura observations of behaviour were conducted in labs, lab studies are often criticised for their artificial nature where ppts demonstrate demand characteristics. This might mean the behaviour displayed may not actually tell us much about actual behaviour.
HW, this level of control is important in keeping scientific credibility that is lacking in some areas of psychology.
There4, although there is too much over reliance on lab based research, researching in labs has its benefits.
Second problem with the social learning theory
Reductionist.
Bandura focuses on environmental and cognitive influences and makes little reference to biological factors on social learning. For example, boys were more aggressive than girls regardless of the specifics of the investigation, could be cuz of high testosterone levels in boys.
HW, reducing the scope of research to one or two aspects allow the research to be focused.
Ther4, the important factor of biology is not accounted for, reducing the validity of the theory.
