Learning Approach 2- Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What is social learning theory?
Suggests that behaviour is learned via observation and imitation oof influential role models
More likely to imitate role model if we identify with them e.g. age/gender or they’re in a position of power/ status e.g. celebrity
What is imitation?
Copying behaviour of others
What is identification?
A connection between an observer and role model, often based on perceived similarity e.g. age/gender
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Learning through observing the consequence of role models behaviour (in terms of reward and punishment). If rewarded, more likely to imitate observed behaviour in order to receive same reward.
What are the mediational processes in learning?
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
What is attention as a mediational process in learning?
Model has to be observed and paid attention to for behaviour to be imitated
What is retention as a mediational process in learning?
Behaviour is remembered and paced in LTM to be retrieved in the future
What is motor reproduction as a mediational process in learning?
Observer has to be able to replicate the behaviour (technically still cognitive)
What is motivation as a mediational process in learning?
The observer must want to replicate the behaviour
What is the aim and method of Bandura’s Bobo doll study?
Aimed to see if aggression could be learnt using principles of SLT
72 children (36 male 36 female) between 3 and 5 years put into 1 of 3 groups for 10 mins:
1. Aggressive model- child played in room while adult hit and shouted at ‘Bobo doll’. Group further subdivided by gender of child and adult model- 4 conditions
2. Non-aggressive model- child played in room while adult played quietly with construction set. Group further subdivided by gender of child and adult model- 4 conditions
3. Control group- child did not see a model.
Children deliberately frustrated by being taken into another room, told not allowed to play with any toys.
Then placed alone in room with range of aggressive toys (mallet, gun) and non aggressive (dolls, crayons) and Bobo doll for 20 mins
What were the findings of Bandura’s Bobo doll study?
Children exposed to aggressive models imitated their behaviours and were significantly more aggressive than those in other condition.
Effect greater for boys than girls.
Girls more likely to imitate verbal aggression and boys physical aggression.
What is the conclusion of Bandura’s Bobo doll study?
Observation and imitation can account for the learning of aggressive acts without reinforcement of either model or observer
Observers have a greater tendency to imitate same-sex role models.
Evaluate Bandura’s Bobo doll study
3 weaknesses:
Can’t generalise to real life. Behaviours measured dont reflect genuine aggression that would be directed towards another human. Low external.
Demand characteristics. Unfamiliar setting and adult role model behaviour. Children may have thought violence towards bobo doll was expected. Low internal.
Ethical issues (protection from harm). Not known what long-term effects there may have been on children, perhaps more aggressive in future.
Evaluate social learning theory
Strength: Supporting evidence. Fox and Bailenson (2009) found that humans were more likely to imitate computer generated ‘virtual humans’ who were similar to themselves. Supports identification, high internal.
Strength: holistic approach. Unlike behaviourism, recognises that humans (and animals) store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when is appropriate to perform certain actions. Not deterministic.
Weakness: Over-simplistic. SLT has been criticised for mostly ignoring biological factors. Recent research suggests observational learning could be result of mirror neurones- allow us to imitate/ empathise with others. Low internal.
Evaluate bobo doll study acronym
X CG
X DC
X EI
