approaches -the learning approach (social learning theory)

Question 1

what is the social learning theory?

Answer 1

.behaviour caused by indirect learning, through observation and imitation of role models in a social context

Question 2

how many processes are involved in the social learning theory?

Answer 2

.4

Question 3

what are the 4 processes involved in social learning theory?

Answer 3

vicarious reinforcement
.meditational processes
.identification
.modelling

Question 4

what is meant by vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 4

.observation of the consequences of a models behaviour affect the likelihood it is repeated by observer

Question 5

what is meditational processes?

Answer 5

.internal mental processes involved between stimulus and response

Question 6

how many meditational processes are there?

Answer 6

4

Question 7

what are the 4 meditational processes?

Answer 7

.attention (focus on it)
.retention (code it into memory)
.motor reproduction (belief that it can be copied)
.motivation (belief benefits outweigh the costs)

Question 8

what is identification?

Answer 8

.people imitate role models they admire or are similar to (eg: by age)

Question 9

what is modelling?

Answer 9

.demonstrating that the behaviour can be copied

Question 10

how many key studies are there involved in the social learning theory?

Answer 10

2

Question 11

who conducted the first study into the research of social learning theory?

Answer 11

.bandura et al (1961)

Question 12

what did bandura et al (1961) do?

Answer 12

.lab experiment:
-children watched video of aggressive and non-aggressive adults
-children’s behaviour recorded in a room

Question 13

what did bandura et al (1961) find?

Answer 13

.hostile acts and novel language copied (eg: pow)

Question 14

who conducted the 2nd study into the research of social learning theory?

Answer 14

.bandura and walters (1963)

Question 15

what did bandura and walters (1963) do?

Answer 15

had 3 conditions:
-aggressive model praised
-aggressive model punished
-aggressive model no consequence

Question 16

what did bandura and walters (1963) find?

Answer 16

.imitation depended on consequences (when aggressive behaviour was praised that was copied the most)

Question 17

what is strength to the social learning theory?

Answer 17

.less reductionist than other approaches -SLT highlights importance of cognitive factors in influencing behaviour ie:
meditational processes
HOWEVER -does underestimate the role of biology (bandura found boys were consistently more aggressive than girls)
.less determinist -environmental determinism (observation influences behaviour, role of external forces)

Question 18

what is a negative to the social learning theory?

Answer 18

.controlled lab studies creates demand characteristics -bandura (children thought they were meant to hit the doll) -lack of internal validity