**L4 - Social Learning Theory Flashcards
whats the key assumption of social learning theory?
behaviour is learned through EXPERIENCE, specifically through observation and imitation within a social context
what is the acronym that describes social learning theory and what does each letter stand for?
M - Modelling I - Imitation I - Identification V - Vicarious Reinforcement M - Mediational Processes
what is modelling? MIIVM
modelling is essential in order for social learning to take place, MODELS must carry out the beahviour to be learnt. A LIVE MODEL could be a PARENT, TEACHER OR PEER. A SYMBOLIC MODEL could be someone in the media
what is imitation? MIIVM
behaviours can only be learnt through social learning if the beahviours that are MODELLED by others are copied (IMITATED)
what is identification? MIIVM
identification describes how we are MORE LIKELY TO IMITATE the behaviour of a model who WE ADMIRE or who is SIMILAR TO US in some way (e.g same age or gender).
In order to identify with the model, observers must feel that they are similar enough to the model that if they performed the same behaviour, the CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THE SAME FOR THEM AS IT WAS FOR THE MODEL
what is vicarious reinforcement? MIIVM
vicarious reinforcement describes how individuals learn by observingthe BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS and the REWARD and PUNISHMENT THEY RECEIVE. People do not need to experience rewards or punishments directly in order to learn from them.
People may learn behaviours, but not perform them because they have also learned that the behaviour is likely to be PUNISHED IF DISPLAYED
what are mediational processes?
mediational processes describes the COGNITIVE FACTORS that occur between the stimulus (observing the behaviour) and the response (imitating the behaviour).
First the observer must pay ATTENTION to the MODEL (attend to their actions), secondly the observer must be capable of RETENTION (remembering the behaviour thats been modelled), thirdly yhe observer must be MOTIVATED TO IMITATE the behaviour (because they want the same reward that the model received), finally the observer must CONSIDER THEMSELVES to be physically and psychologically capable of REPRODUCING THE BEHAVIOUR.
People can learn a behaviour but still not reproduce it because they are not motivated to, or they are not capable of that behaviour.
what was BANDURA’S STUDY? PROCEDURE
Bandura conducted a study involving 36 MALE and 36 FEMALE CHILDREN aged 3-7 years. The children had to observe a MODEL acting either AGGRESSIVELY or NON AGGRESSIVELY with a BOBO DOLL. Some of the children saw a SAME SEX MODEL, others saw a DIFFERENT SEX MODEL.
In the experimental conditions the model displayed AGGRESSIVE ACTS towards the bobo doll such as STRIKING IT with a MALELT and shouting “POW”
what did the children do after being made to observe the models? PROCEDURE
after the children observed these aggressive act, they were made to feel FRUSTRATED. They were shown ATTRACTIVE TOYS but told that they were not allowed to play with them. The children one by one were then taken to a room which had some toys INCLUDING A BOBO DOLL. The children were observed for 20 MINUTES.
BANDURA’S EXPERIMENT RESULTS?
The results found that the children who observed the AGGRESSIVE MODEL reproduced the same AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR towards the bobo doll, whereas the children who observed the NON AGGRESSIVE MODEL showed NO AGGRESSION to the bobo doll.
33% of children who observed and heard verbal aggression repeated what they had seen and heard.
However 0% of the children in the non aggressive group displayed verbal aggression.
Boys were MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN GIRLS, and imitation of aggression was greatest when the model was the SAME GENDER as the OBSERVER (identification).
+ BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE FACTORS
+ social learning theory recognises the importance of both BEHAVIOURAL and COGNITIVE FACTORS (mediational processes) when examining how people learn new behaviours, UNIKE THE BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH (classical and operant conditioning)
- INFERRENCE
- Mediational factors have to be inferred so we CANNOT MEASURE THE EXTENT OF THEIR INFLUENCE. Social learning theory does not try to explain mediational processes, it LEAVES THIS TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS
- cause and effect
- social learning theory can be criticised because it DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CAUSE AND EFFECT. Studies have found that YOUNG PEOPLE who have DEVIANT ATTITUDES seek out PEERS WITH SIMILAR ATTITUDES, rather than becoming deviant because of their peers.
- environmentally determined, BANDURA
- social learning theory sees behaviour as ENVIRONMENTALLY DETERMINED and so ignores the ROLE OF BIOLOGY in BEHAVIOUR.
However, BANDURA found in his experiment that boys were MORE AGGRESSIVE than girls, regardless of the experimental situation they were in. Boys might be more aggressive because of the HORMONE TESTOSTERONE which means it is biologically determined.
- ABSTRACT NOTIONS
- social learning theory is able to explain behaviours such as AGGRESSION, but not able to explain the learning of ABSTRACT NOTIONS. e.g FAIRNESS, JUSTICE etc, which cannot be observed directly.
