Approaches: Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is social learning theory

Answer 1

A way of explaining behaviour that includes bothe direct and direct reinforcement combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors

Question 2

What is imitation

Answer 2

Copying the behaviour of others

Question 3

What is a role model

Answer 3

When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model

Question 4

What is modelling

Answer 4

A person Imitating the behaviour of a role model or from the role model perspective modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that might be imitated by an observer

Question 5

What is mediation all factors

Answer 5

Cognitive factors ie thinking that influence learning can come between a stimulus and a response

Question 6

What is attention

Answer 6

The extent at which we notice certain behaviours

Question 7

What is retention

Answer 7

How well a behaviour is remembered

Question 8

What is motor reproduction

Answer 8

The ability of an observer to perform a behaviour

Question 9

What is motivation

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 10

Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour

Question 11

What are the assumptions of social learning theory

Answer 11

Behaviour is learned from the environment
Behaviour can be learnt directly through classical and operant conditioning
Indirectly through observing others

Question 12

What must there be in SLT

Answer 12

Role model for an observer to watch

These provide examples of Behaviour that can be observed and later reproduced through imitation

Question 13

What is Imitation dependent on

Answer 13

The reinforcement that the model receives

Question 14

If a model receives positive/negative reinforcement or punishment what happens to the observer

Answer 14

Observer more likely to imitate behaviour because they too want to be rewarded - positive

Observer less likely to imitate behaviour because they dont want to be punished - punishment

Question 15

What does SLT place importance on ?

Answer 15

Internal meditational processes - they bridge the gap between learning and cognitive theories

Question 16

What must occur for learning from a role model to happen

Answer 16

1) pay attention to the behaviour
2) retain the behaviour
3) behaviour must be able to be reproduced
4) must be motivated to perform behaviour

Question 17

What time do the learning and performance behaviours need to take place ?

Answer 17

Need to learned at the same time but can be reproduced later

Question 18

What should happen for behaviour of role model to be remembered

Answer 18

Individual must identify with the role model

Feel as though they are similar to the person

Question 19

What was the aim of banduras research

Answer 19

To demonstrate that aggression can be learnt through media

Question 20

What was the method used in Banduras research

Answer 20

72 children between 3-6 years
Put into 3 groups
Half saw male model and half saw female models
Aggressive model - played in a room whilst adult hit and shouted at bobo doll
Non aggressive model - played in a room while adult played quietly with a construction set
Control group - did not see a model
Children observed while children spent 20 mins in room with aggressive and non aggressive toys

Question 21

Results from banduras research

Answer 21

Children who saw aggressive model - more aggressive acts than those in either group
Boys imitated same sex model more than girls
Girls showed more physical aggression - male models used
Showed More verbal aggression - female models used

Question 22

Strength of SLT (more comprehensive)

Answer 22

More comprehensive learning explanation of human learning

It recognises the role of mediation all processes
Earlier learning theories - behaviourism were criticised for failing to acknowledge the role of these processes particularly in learning

SLT provides less reductionist view of behaviour

Question 23

Strength of SLT cultural differences

Answer 23

Can explain cultural differences in behaviour
Eg how
Children understand their gender roles and how this differs between countries
Africa - men take on roles such as looking after children and home
More feminine by British individuals

Social learning principles can account for how other learn from individuals around them and media

Approach is useful in explaining range of behaviours

Question 24

Limitation of SLT ( lab studies)

Answer 24

Over reliance on lab studies to provide support for this approach

Eg banduras experiment
Children were observed inc control setting
Responding to demand characterises
Purpose of bobo doll is to strike it so it bounces back
Children doing what’s expected of them

Tells us little about vicarious reinforcement in real life

Question 25

Limiatation of SLT (biological factors)

Answer 25

Approach underestimates the influence of biological factors

Consistent finding - boys more aggressive than girls
Can be explained by hormonal factors such as higher levels of testosterone in boys
Not accounted for in SLT
Reduces validity of the research
Evidence supporting - limited

Question 26

What is another limitation for SLT ( deterministic )

Answer 26

Less deterministic than behaviourist approach

Skinner and behaviourists rejected the idea of free will and claimed instead
All behaviour is controlled by external forces in environment

Bandura placed importance on meditational processes
Show that we can store, plan and make judgments about when to produce particular behaviours we have observed

Suggests we play more active role in learning than behaviourism would suggest

Question 27

What are the differences between SLT and behaviourism

Answer 27

1) SLT recognises that the learner plays an active reale in their learning - choose which behaviour to remember , choose when and where to reproduce and how to respond to consequences
Behaviourism - learner passively responds to environment

2) SLT recognises difference between acquiescence (learning) and performance - you can observe behaviour and remember it but never produce it
Behaviourism - performance and learning are the same thing , behaviour not learnt if not used

3)SLT - behaviours can be fixed - bandura calls these internalised -imitated and and reinforced many times
Behaviourism - behaviour changes constantly in responses to new reinforcement

4)SLT recognises that reinforcement is an indirect process - vicarious reinforcement - mediated by cognitive factors unlike behaviourism

5) SLT involves only measurement of observable behaviour
Done in controlled lab experiments
Unlike behaviourism
Participants always humans
Experimental findings supported by natural observations

Question 28

Similarities between behaviourism and SLT

Answer 28

All behaviour is learned from experience

Use lab experiments to try and gain more control and objectivity in their research