Approaches(social learning theory) Flashcards
Modelling -
In order for social learning theory to take place someone has to portray the model, people who perform the behaviour refer to as models there are two types of models.
Live model -
Might be a teacher, parent or peer
Symbolic model -
May be a celebrity or someone shown in the media
What did Bandura believe?
That behaviour could not only be acquired through direct experience but also observations of others performing the behaviour
Imitation -
A much of what a child learns is through imitation of the attitudes and behaviours learnt by the model. Research shows that when a model is applied that the learning process takes a quick period of learning unlike conditioning. The behaviour may be perfomed from the perceived ability of whether they can form that behaviour and what are the consequences of the behvaviour.
Identification -
Refers to whether the individual relates to the model and if he or she is similar, for it to occur the individual must experience closely related backgrounds and experience similar outcomes, research into social learning suggests similar sex-models are effective in terms of stimulating identifiction. Identification with a model means the individual is more likely to imitate their behaviours, so SLT is more likely to be effective.
Vicarious reinforcement -
Bandura and Walters notices that imitation is more likely to be demonstrated when the model was rewarded with the behaviour and they were given a positive consequence, especially with aggressive behaviour, the person learns the outcome of the possible behaviour. Individuals learn about the likely consequence of that behaviour and therefore can adjust their subsequent behaviour accordingly.
Mediational processes -
refer to the internal mental processes between the environmental stimuli and the response made by the individual. When appropriate opportunities arise in the future, the individual might display the learned behaviour previously learnt depending on if positive outweigh negative consequences. Based on their cognitive input of what they feel (internal mental processes).
Bandura’s procedure (1961) -
- Kids 3-6 years old
- Involved two different conditions children either observed aggressive behaviour towards the bobo doll or non-aggressive behaviour towards the doll.
-The aggressive behaviour from the adults resulted in physical aggression: striking the doll and striking with a mallet and sating words such as ‘POW’
Bandura findings (1961) -
-Children who experienced the aggressive models reproduced a good deal of abuse and violence of their own towards the bobo doll when given the chance and those who experienced non-aggressive behaviour exerted no aggression towards the doll. Bandura and Walters found that when the models were rewarded for aggressive acts they were much more likely to imitate the behaviour (vicarious behaviour).
Social learning theory has some useful applications - Strength (criminal behaviour)
The ideas of social learning theory has been applied to many areas of human behaviour and understanding criminal behaviour. Akers (1998) found that criminals that are exposed to illegal behaviour are more likely to imitate that behaviour themselves. They identify with these models. This is backed up by positive consequences and the possible exposure of vicarious reinforcement. This allows better understanding of why people act in a different manner than others and is similar to Bandura’s findings as possible violence is both modelled and rewarded.
Identification may no be the only factor - limitation
There may be other potential influences on behaviour for example, the development of gender role behaviour, social learning theorists would suggest that the importance of a live model may be impactful due to the same sex model. However, a child is exposed to many different factors in a setting these may be media portrayals (symbolic models). This may mean that any predispositions can effect a person idea of imitating another’s. It becomes difficult for it to show one specific thing which may be the primary factor.
