Approaches- The Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What is the main idea of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory (SLT)?
SLT proposes that people learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context, combining direct learning (classical and operant conditioning) with indirect learning.
What is vicarious reinforcement in SLT?
Vicarious reinforcement occurs when an individual observes a behavior and its consequences. Imitation is more likely if the behavior is rewarded rather than punished.
What are the four mediational processes in SLT?
The four processes are:
1. Attention – noticing certain behaviors.
2. Retention – remembering the behavior.
3. Motor reproduction – the ability to perform the behavior.
4. Motivation – the will to perform the behavior, influenced by rewards or punishments.
How does SLT differ from traditional behaviorism?
SLT incorporates cognitive factors (mediational processes) and recognizes that learning and performance of behavior can occur at different times, unlike behaviorism, which focuses solely on observable behavior.
What is a criticism of Bandura’s research methods?
Bandura’s reliance on lab studies, such as the Bobo doll experiments, is criticized for being contrived and potentially influenced by demand characteristics, limiting their applicability to real-life learning.
What is identification in SLT?
Identification is the process where individuals, especially children, imitate the behavior of role models—people they identify with due to similar characteristics, attractiveness, or high status.
What did Bandura’s Bobo doll experiments demonstrate?
Bandura showed that children who observed an adult acting aggressively toward a Bobo doll were more likely to imitate the aggressive behavior, especially if the adult was rewarded for it.
How does SLT explain the role of cognitive factors in learning?
SLT emphasizes that humans store information about observed behaviors and use it to make decisions about when to perform actions, making learning more efficient and less hazardous than relying solely on direct experience.
How does SLT underestimate biological factors?
Bandura’s theory pays little attention to biological influences, such as hormonal differences (e.g., testosterone levels), which may explain why boys are often more aggressive than girls in experiments.
What are the implications of SLT for media influence?
SLT suggests that children and adults may imitate aggressive behaviors observed in media, such as TV, movies, or video games. However, some researchers argue that media is more likely to frighten than inspire aggression.
How does SLT explain cultural differences in behavior?
SLT accounts for how cultural norms are transmitted through observation and imitation of others, including media, making it useful for understanding behaviors like gender roles.
Why is SLT considered less deterministic than behaviorism?
Bandura’s concept of reciprocal determinism acknowledges that individuals influence their environment through their behaviors, introducing an element of free will, unlike the strict environmental determinism of behaviorism.
What is the significance of Bandura’s Bobo doll experiments for media debates?
The experiments fueled debates about media influence on aggression, such as the 1990 James Bulger case, where violent media was blamed for inspiring real-life violence, though other factors like social deprivation were also considered.
How does SLT explain gender-appropriate behavior?
Children learn gender-appropriate behavior by observing and imitating role models, such as parents or media figures, and through reinforcement for conforming to cultural norms.
Why might the biological approach struggle to explain cultural differences in gender behavior?
The biological approach focuses on innate factors like hormones and genetics, which cannot account for the wide variation in gender roles across different cultures.
