Approaches-The learning approach:Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What does the social learning theory suggest

Answer 1

That learning occurs both directly through classical and operant conditioning and indirectly through vicarious reinforcement

Question 2

What is the assumption of the SLT

Answer 2

Humans naturally learn through observation
Mediational processes determine whether a student follows the behaviors they observe

Question 3

Explain how Humans naturally learn through observation

Answer 3

An observer identifies themself with a desirable role model.This role model displays behaviour which is imitated by the observer.The observer is more likely to do what the role model does.Therefore through vicarious reinforcement they are even more likely to do what the role model does

Question 4

What is a role model

Answer 4

A person whom the observer identifies with.

Question 5

What are features of a role model

Answer 5

Someone attractive
Has a high social status
Of similar age
Same gender

Question 6

Define identification

Answer 6

The process by which an observer relates/ associates themselves with a role model and aspires to become like the role model

Question 7

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 7

A type of indirect learning which occurs when an observer sees their role model being rewarded for displaying a certain behaviour the observer is then motivated to do this behaviour

Question 8

What is the mediational process

Answer 8

A cognitive process which mediate/intervene between stimulus and response

Question 9

What are the four mediational rocesses

Answer 9

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation

Question 10

What other approach does the SLT agree with

Answer 10

The behaviourist appraoch- They differ from the fact that SLT believes that we can learnt both directly and indirectly.(observartion)

Question 11

Define social learning theory

Answer 11

A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement combining learning theory wiht the role of cognitive factors

Question 12

Define the 4 mediational processes

Answer 12

Attention-The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention- how well the behaviour is rembered
Reproducition-The ability of the observer to perform the behvaiour
Motivation-The will to perform the behaviour

Question 13

What is a con of Albert Banduras bobodoll study

Answer 13

The enivornmentwas in a lab where demand charctistcsts ,may take place affected the results if teh study
It was suggested that the children were simply acting in the way they thought was expected

Another con was that he did not use biological factors for example boys were more aggressove as they have more test

Question 14

What is vicarious punishment

Answer 14

Witnessing someone getting punished for an action that makes us less likely to adopt that behaviour

Question 15

What are some factors that effect identificagion

Answer 15

Gender
age
attraction
high status

Question 16

WHat is an example of a diff between behaviourisn and SLT

Answer 16

Learning and performance is the same activity in Behaviourism however with SLT they are not the same as, if someone learns through observation they think they can keep that memory until the appropiate time to use it.the info has been internalised to be used at a later time

Question 17

EValuations of SLT

Answer 17

It is supported by robust evidence for example the bobo doll has high internal validity due to the labrotaory seting.Which ensured environmental control by having participants follow the same procedure in the same room with access to identical toys.it also used a matched pair design to control participant variables assessing childrens pre existing aggression levels to ensure each group contained an eqaul mix of aggressive children
Howver it lacks external validity the findings on aggression onl show the short term effects of social learning as aggresion may not be imitated weeks or months kater also lab settiongs maynot directly translate into real world scenarios reducong the ecolpogical validity which raises the concoern if the SLT can really be applied to real lfe
Relies of infernces as identification wiht a model , vicarious reinforcement and midiating cognitve factors canno be observed but are inferred from th ebhevaiours hsown by the ppts and these infernces could be inccorect so iti kacks scienfica
One advantage ove rthe behvaiourism aproach is that it is less of a reductionist p=approach giving more detailed and potenially mor evalid understahding of human behaviours SLT acknlowkedges the roles of conscousness and rationality provoiding a more beliveable explaining for complex behaviours like aggression behvioursm focuses on simplistic satimous response mechanisms which may only be appropiate ijn explaoning the learning of basic behaviours

Question 18

What is the role of mediational processes

Answer 18

Mediational process explains why individuals do not automatically mimic behaviour they observe. This is because if any of the 4 mediational processes are missing the behaviour will not be imitated