Chap 11 Flashcards
Bandura and Walters social learning theory
- Combination of traditional principles and classical/operant conditioning
- Combination of the principles of observational learning, or imitation.
Meltzoff and Moore results
Newborn infants have a tendency to repeat certain gestures made by adults, especially tongue protrusion
Research showed that
The ability to imitate new behaviors does not appear until later in childhood
Social Facilitation
Behavior of one animal prompts similar behaviors from another animal, but the behavior is one that is ALREADY IN THE REPERTOIRE of the imitator (eating, running, etc).
Stimulus enhancement
Behavior of a model directs the attention of the learner to a particular stimulus or place in the environment.
True Imitation
Occurs when an animal imitates a behavior that IT HAS NEVER PERFORMED BEFORE, and when it is an unusual behavior pattern for that species, which probably would not have been learned if the animal did not observe another animal performing that behavior.
Miller and Dollard
- claimed that observational learning is not an additional type of learning, rather it is simply a special case of operant conditioning.
- Claimed that observational learning involves situations where the discriminative stimulus is the behavior of another person, and the appropriate response just happens to be a similar behavior on the part of the observer.
Miller and Dollard experiemt
- Children always copied the response of the leader
- Non- imitation group always made the opposite response
- Concluded that, like any other operant response, imitation will occur if an individual is reinforced for imitating.
Bandura pointed out
Miller and Dollards analysis of imitation applies only to those instances in which a leaner observes the behavior of a model and immediately copies the response.
The principle cannot, by itself explain the first occurrence of any response learned by observation.
True
Bandura’s Experiment + conclusions
- the theory of generalized imitation is inadequate.
- Claimed that the consequences to the model made a difference: Children who saw the model being punished exhibited less imitation than children in the other two groups.
- Claimed that the experimenter offered to reward the child if he or she would imitate the behavior of the model in the film.
- Concluded that reinforcement is not necessary for the LEARNING of new behaviors through observation, but that the expectation of reinforcement is essential for the PERFORMANCE of these new behaviors.
*Claimed that the theory of generalized imitation makes no provisions for distinguishing between the learning and the performance of imitative behaviors.
Bandura’s Theory of Imitation
- Attentional Processes: Learner must pay attention to the appropriate features of the models behavior if imitation is to occur.
- Retentional Processes: Must retain some of the info that is gained through observation is imitation is to occur at a later time. (rehearsal can be important here).
- Motor Reproductive Processes: Learner must have the appropriate motor skills in order to imitate the model. Must have general knowledge.
- Incentive and Motivational Processes: Individual must have an expectation that the performance of this new behavior will produce some type of behavior.
Problems with generalized imitation theory
- It does not explain why observes will imitate a reinforced model more readily than a punished model.
- It does not explain why the children in all 3 groups were able to imitate when offered a reward for doing so.
Kymissis and Poulson proposed
- Theory of imitation can account for all types of imitative behaviors, using only well established principles of operant conditioning.
- Banduras claim that the theory of generalized imitation cannot explain his results is not correct. Both theories can account for the results, but they do so in slightly different ways.
Whereas Baduras theory uses concepts such as attention, retention, and expectation of reward, the theory of generalized imitation relies on behavioral principles such as stimulus discrimination, generalization, and the learning/performance distinction.
True
Mirror Neurons
- They fire both when an animal makes a certain movements AND when the animal observes someone else make that movement.
- They may help us understand the actions, intentions, and feelings of other people.
- Suggested that motor neurons are important for observational learning and imitation as they may help to make the connection between seeing someone else perform the action and then being able to perform it ourselves.
Baduras and Walters suggested two main ways a parent can shape a Childs personality.
- By control of rewards and punishments.
- By serving as a model whom the child can imitate.
Bandura and Walters claimed
- Direct reinforcement and observational learning work together in shaping what we might call self-discipline and a high achievement motivation.
- Parents vs children bowling experiment. Candy as celebration changed as the parent chose when they would get one.
- Study showed that children can learn to apply either strict or lenient standards of self discipline by observing a model.
- Speculate that numerous learning experiences of a similar type must occur as children observe their parents behaviors over a period of many years.
McClelland found
A significant correlation between the average level of achievement motivation depicted in a countries children stores and its rate of economic growth during the next 25 years.
Apparent paradox
*Parents who use the most severe punishment for aggressive behaviors tend to produce more aggressive children.
*Resolved when we realize that parents who use physical punishment with their children are providing their children with models of aggressive behavior.
Many studies have found
A positive correlation between amount of TV they watch and their level of aggressiveness in everyday life.
Longitudinal study
relevant variables are measured at different points in time.
Eron, Huesmann, Lefkowitz, and Walter study
- Found moderate correlation between preference for violent TV in the 3rd grade and aggressiveness 10 years later.
Field experiments
- In which the TV viewing and the measurement of aggressive behaviors occur in more realistic settings.
- Show a modest effects of TV violence on aggressive behaviors.