approaches in psychology - behaviourism: social learning theory.

Question 1

What is meant by “social learning theory”?

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.

Question 2

What is meant by “imitation”?

Answer 2

Copying the behaviour of others.

Question 3

What is meant by “identification”?

Answer 3

When an observer associates themselves with a role model by adopting their attitudes and behaviour.

Question 4

What is meant by “modelling”?

Answer 4

Process of watching and imitating the behaviour of a role model.

Question 5

What is meant by “vicarious reinforcement”?

Answer 5

Reinforcement which is not directly experiences but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour.
[key factor in imitation]

Question 6

What is meant by “mediational processes”?

Answer 6

Cognitive factors such as internal mental processes that influence learning and come between the stimulus and the response.

Question 7

What are the assumptions of the SLT approach?

Answer 7

• proposed by Albert Bandura.
• agrees with the behaviourist approach such as we can gain new patterns of behaviour through direct experience but by also observing behaviour and imitation within a social context.
• an observer learns new behaviour by watching and imitating another person (role model) - modelling.

Question 8

What did Albert Bandura propose about SLT?

Answer 8

That it is a development of the behaviourist approach.

Question 9

What are the links between vicarious reinforcement and SLT?

Answer 9

• for indirect learning to occur an individual observes the behaviour of others.
• imitation most likely to occur if behaviour seen is rewarded (reinforced) rather than punished.
• learner observes behaviour but most importantly observes the consequences.

Question 10

What are the roles of mediational processes?

Answer 10

• bridge between traditional learning theory and the cognitive approach as it places emphasis on how cognitive factors are involved in learning.
• identified by Bandura.
• attention and retention are the learning of the behaviour.
• motor reproduction and motivation are the performance of behaviour.

Question 11

What are the mediational processes?

Answer 11

• attention.
• retention.
• motor reproduction.
• motivation.

Question 12

What is meant by “attention”?

Answer 12

The extent to which we notice behaviours.

Question 13

What is meant by “retention”?

Answer 13

How well the behaviour is remembered.

Question 14

What is meant by “motor reproduction”?

Answer 14

The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.

Question 15

What is meant by “motivation”?

Answer 15

The will to perform the behaviour which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

Question 16

What are the links between identification and SLT?

Answer 16

• people (especially children) are more likely to imitate the behaviour of people with whom they identify called role models.
• person becomes a role model if they seem to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have a high status.
• role model may not necessarily be physically present in the environment.

Question 17

What are the strengths of the SLT approach?

Answer 17

• importance of cognition.
• soft determinism.

Question 18

What are the weaknesses of the SLT approach?

Answer 18

• over-reliance on lab studies.
• underestimates biology.

Question 19

What is the evaluation of the SLT approach - importance of cognition?

Answer 19

POINT - one strength is the importance they give cognitive factors in learning.
EVIDENCE - have highlighted the four mediational processes are necessary when learning and performing a behaviour.
EXPLANATION - classical and operant conditioning cannot offer an adequate of learning on their own as humans store information about the behaviour of others. We use cognitive processes to make judgements on whether it is appropriate to perform certain actions.
LINK - SLT recognises the internal mental processes of behaviour and offers a more comprehensive view on behaviour.

Question 20

What is the evaluation point of the SLT approach - importance of cognition?

Answer 20

One strength is the importance they give cognitive factors in learning.

Question 21

What is the evaluation evidence of the SLT approach - importance of cognition?

Answer 21

Have highlighted the four mediational processes are necessary when learning and performing a behaviour.

Question 22

What is the evaluation explanation of the SLT approach - importance of cognition?

Answer 22

Classical and operant conditioning cannot offer an adequate of learning on their own as humans store information about the behaviour of others. We use cognitive processes to make judgements on whether it is appropriate to perform certain actions.

Question 23

What is the evaluation link of the SLT approach - importance of cognition?

Answer 23

SLT recognises the internal mental processes of behaviour and offers a more comprehensive view on behaviour.

Question 24

What is the evaluation of the SLT approach - soft determinism?

Answer 24

POINT - one strength is that it is less determinist than the behaviourist approach.
EVIDENCE - the theory has identified that we need to have the will to perform a particular behaviour.
EXPLANATION - shows that we are not just influenced by our external environment as we also exert an influence on the behaviours we choose to perform.
LINK - suggests there is an element of choice which shows there is free will – soft determinism.

Question 25

What is the evaluation point of the SLT approach - soft determinism?

Answer 25

One strength is that it is less determinist than the behaviourist approach.

Question 26

What is the evaluation evidence of the SLT approach - soft determinism?

Answer 26

The theory has identified that we need to have the will to perform a particular behaviour.

Question 27

What is the evaluation explanation of the SLT approach - soft determinism?

Answer 27

Shows that we are not just influenced by our external environment as we also exert an influence on the behaviours we choose to perform.

Question 28

What is the evaluation link of the SLT approach - soft determinism?

Answer 28

Suggests there is an element of choice which shows there is free will – soft determinism.

Question 29

What is the evaluation of the SLT approach - over-reliance on lab studies?

Answer 29

POINT - one weakness is the over-reliance on lab studies.
EVIDENCE - most of the research by learning theorists has been conducted in a lab.
EXPLANATION - lab studies are often criticised for being conducted in heavily controlled environments rising demand characteristics. The children were simply behaving in a way that they thought was expected of them in Bandura’s Bobo doll study.
LINK - research surrounding SLT tells us very little about how children learn aggression in day to day life.

Question 30

What is the evaluation point of the SLT approach - over-reliance on lab studies?

Answer 30

One weakness is the over-reliance on lab studies.

Question 31

What is the evaluation evidence of the SLT approach - over-reliance on lab studies?

Answer 31

Most of the research by learning theorists has been conducted in a lab.

Question 32

What is the evaluation explanation of the SLT approach - over-reliance on lab studies?

Answer 32

Lab studies are often criticised for being conducted in heavily controlled environments rising demand characteristics. The children were simply behaving in a way that they thought was expected of them in Bandura’s Bobo doll study.

Question 33

What is the evaluation link of the SLT approach - over-reliance on lab studies?

Answer 33

Research surrounding SLT tells us very little about how children learn aggression in day to day life.

Question 34

What is the evaluation of the SLT approach - underestimates biology?

Answer 34

POINT - one weakness is that the influence of biological factors has been underestimated.
EVIDENCE - Bandura’s study found boys were often more aggressive than girls.
EXPLANATION - difference could be explained through hormonal factors such as the different levels of testosterone which is present in higher quantities in boys than girls which may explain the increased aggressive behaviour.
LINK - there is much more to explaining behaviour than just the process of imitation, there are biological factors which have not been accounted for by the SLT.

Question 35

What is the evaluation point of the SLT approach - underestimates biology?

Answer 35

One weakness is that the influence of biological factors has been underestimated.

Question 36

What is the evaluation evidence of the SLT approach - underestimates biology?

Answer 36

Bandura’s study found boys were often more aggressive than girls.

Question 37

What is the evaluation explanation of the SLT approach - underestimates biology?

Answer 37

Difference could be explained through hormonal factors such as the different levels of testosterone which is present in higher quantities in boys than girls which may explain the increased aggressive behaviour.

Question 38

What is the evaluation link of the SLT approach - underestimates biology?

Answer 38

There is much more to explaining behaviour than just the process of imitation, there are biological factors which have not been accounted for by the SLT.