Approaches : Social Learning Theory Flashcards
SLT
• proposed by Bandura → he said classical and operant conditioning couldn’t account for all human learning
• a development of the behaviourist approach
• considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behaviour
• there are important mental processes that lie between the stimulus and response
Bandura view on how our behaviour is learnt
Through experience (behaviourist) but also through observation, modelling, imitation of others.
Role models
Modelling is a process that occurs during social learning and can occur when an observer imitates a role model.
• Learning occurs through the observation of role models.
• People are more likely to imitate a role model if they identify with them.
Vicarious reinforcement
learning through observation of the consequences of actions for other people.
Mediational processes
Attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation
Mediational processes : attention
For a behaviour to be imitated it has to grab our attention.
Mediational processes : retention
The behaviour may be noticed, but is it not always remembered which obviously prevents imitation
Mediational processes : motor reproduction
This is the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
Mediational processes : motivation
The rewards and punishment that follow a behaviour will be considered by the observer. If the perceived rewards outweighs the perceived costs (if there are any) then the behaviour will be more likely to be imitated by the observer.
Advantages of SLT
More holistic (tackles into acc Mediational processes and the role of cognition)
Disadvantages of SLT
Not a full explanation for all behaviour as does not consider biological factors and individual differences
Bandura’s Bobo doll study (1961) - Aim
To see whether children will imitate aggressive behaviour - even if in a different environment and without the model present
Bandura’s Bobo doll study (1961) - Procedure
a lab experiment was used in Stanford University Nursery in 3 conditions:
• 24 children with an aggressive roll model (6 girls and 6 boys with female model, 6 girls and 6 boys with male model)
• 24 children with non-aggressive role model (6 girls and 6 boys with female model, 6 girls and 6 boys with male model)
• 24 children in control group (6 girls and 6 boys with no model)
The children were 37-69 months (3-5 years) and watched a video of an adult attacking an inflated doll both with physical violence and hostile language - the model pummeled the doll with a mallet, flung it in the air, kicked it repeatedly and threw it down and beat it. Later, the children were put in the room alone with the doll and access to different types of toys that allowed them to choose to play either aggressively or non aggressively.
Bandura’s Bobo doll study (1961) - Findings
Children exposed to the video imitated the behaviour they’d seen while unexposed children did not. Additionally, toy guns were picked up by children who had been exposed and they invented new ways of attacking the doll even though they’d never seen the acts before.
Girls showed more physical aggression if model was male and more verbal aggression is model was female. Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models and were more aggressive vs the girls.
Bandura’s Bobo doll study (1961) - Conclusion
Children will demonstrate aggressive behaviour through just observation
