behaviourist approach: Social learning theory

Question 1

what is social learning theory?

Answer 1

a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with a role of cognitive factors.

Question 2

what are the assumptions of social learning theory?

Answer 2

Bandura agreed with the behaviourist that behaviour is learned from experience. However his social learning theory proposed a different way in which people learn, through observation and imitation of others.
SLT suggests that learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly.

Question 3

what is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 3

for indirect learning to take place an individual observes the behaviour of others. in general imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded (reinforced) rather than punished. this is known as vicarious reinforcement.
learner observes the behaviour, but also he consequences of the behaviour.

Question 4

what is meditational processes?

Answer 4

cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.

Question 5

what are the four meditational processes?

Answer 5

Bandura identified four meditational processes in learning:

1. Attention- the extent to which we notice behaviours
2. Retention- how well the behaviour is remembered
3. Motor reproduction- the ability of the observer to preform the behaviour.
4. Motivation- the will to preform the behaviour, which is often determined by if the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

Question 6

what is identification?

Answer 6

identification is the desire to be associated with a particular group or person often because the person or group possesses certain desirable characteristics. the person they identify with is called a role model and the process of imitating a role model is called modelling.

role models may not necessarily be physically present in the environment.

Question 7

what is a strength of social learning theory?

Answer 7

• one strength of social learning theory is that it recognises age importance of cognitive factors in learning
• neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own. humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to preform certain actions.
• this suggests that SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of meditational processes.

Question 8

what is a limitation of SLT

Answer 8

• a limitation of SLT is that the evidence on which it was based on was gathered through lab studies.
• many of Bandura’s ideas developed through observations of young children’s behaviour in a lab. lab studies often criticised for their contrived nature where PPs may respond to demand characteristics.
• suggested that in the Bobo doll research that because of the main purpose of the doll is to strike it, the children were simply behaving in a way that they thought was expected.
• suggests that the research may actually tell us little about how children learn in everyday life.

Question 9

how does SLT have real world application?

Answer 9

• another strength of SLT is that it’s principles have been applied to a range of real-world behaviours.
• social learning theory has the advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour. SLT principles such as modelling, imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others around them, including the media. this can explain how social/cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies.
• proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours, such as how children come to understand their gender role. increases the value of the approach as it can account for real-work behaviour