Approaches - Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What is Social Learning Theory in the learning approach?
A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Indirect learning taking place when an individual observes the behaviour of others.
What is identification?
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
What is modelling?
Imitating the behaviour of a role model.
What are mediational processes?
description
Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
What were the mediational processes identified by Bandura?
- Attention - extent to which we notice certain behaviours
- Retention - How well the behaviour is remembered
- Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
- Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
What happened in Bandura’s study of Social Learning Theory?
Bandura recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a Bobo doll. The adult hit the doll with a hammer and shouted abuse at it. When these children were later observed playing with various toys, they behaved much more aggressively towards the doll and other toys than those who observed a non-aggressive adult.
What are the limitations of social learning theory?
Social learning theory is supported by research Bandura at al. (1961) however it was a laboratory experiment and the task did not reflect the way the participants behave in their normal life.
Furthermore the children were in an unfamiliar environment they might have thought that they were expected to behave like the model (demand characteristics).
The participants were young children, older children and adults might not have imitated the aggressive behavior as they have more developed moral values.
The theory does not explain why the boys imitated the physical aggressive behavior more than the girls. Other factors must be involved such as biological factors like testosterone.
