Approaches: Lesson 4 - Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What was Bandura (1963)’s belief?

Answer 1

• that learning takes place in a social context, this means thatbehaviour is not only acquired through direct (classical and operant) conditioning but also indirectly by observing the behaviour of others

Question 2

What are the five processes that take place in social learning?

Answer 2

1. modelling
2. Imitation
3. Identification
4. Vicarious reinforcement
5. meditational processes

Question 3

What is modelling?

Answer 3

• in order for social learning to take place modelsmust carry out the behaviour to be learnt
• A live modelcould be a parent, teacher or peer
• A symbolic modelcould be someone in the media

Question 4

What is imitation? (Social learning theory)?

Answer 4

– A lot of the behaviour people acquire is learnt though copying (imitating) the behaviour that is modelled by their parents and other significant models
- When a model is provided entire patterns of behaviour can be rapidly acquired

Question 5

What is identification (SLT)?

Answer 5

– We are more likely to imitate the behaviour of a model who we admire or who is similar to us in some way (e.g. same age and gender)
- In order toidentify with the model, observers must feel that they are similar enough to the model that if they performed the same behaviour, the consequence would be the same for them as it was for the model

Question 6

What is vicarious reinforcement (SLT)?

Answer 6

– Individuals learn by observing the behaviour of others and the reward and punishment they receive

• People to not need to experience rewards or punishments directly in order to learn from them
• People may learn behaviours, but not perform them because they have also learned that the behaviour is likely to be punished if displayed

Question 7

What are meditational processes (SLT)?

Answer 7

–Cognitive factors occur between the stimulus (observing the behaviour) and the response (imitating the behaviour)

• First the observer must pay attentionto the model (attend to their actions)
• secondly the observer must be capable of retention(remember the behaviour that has been modelled)
• thirdly the observer must be motivatedto imitate the behaviour (because they want the same reward the model received)
• finally the observer mustconsider themselves to be physically and psychologically capable of reproducingthe behaviour

Question 8

Outline the procedure of Bandura (1961)

Answer 8

• Bandura conducted a study involving 36 male and 36 female children aged 37-69 months of age
• The children had to observe a model acting either aggressively or non aggressively with a bobo doll
• Some of the children saw a same-sex model, others saw a different sex model
• In the experimental conditions the model displayed aggressive acts towards the bobo doll such as striking it with a mallet and shouting “POW!”
• After the children observed these aggressive acts, they were made to feel frustrated
• They were shown attractive toys but told they were not allowed to play with them
• The children (one by one) were then taken to a room which had some toys including a bobo doll
• The children were observed for 20 minutes

Question 9

What are the findings of Bandura’s 1963 research?

Answer 9

• The results found that the children who observed the aggressive model reproduced the same aggressive behaviour towards the bobo doll,whereas the children who observed the non-aggressive model, showed no aggression to the bobo doll
• 33% of children who observed and heard verbal aggression repeated what they had seen and heard
• However 0% of children in the non aggressive group displayed verbal aggression
• Boys were more aggressive than girls, and imitation of aggression was greatest when the model was the same gender as the observer (identification)