Learning Approach: Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What are the assumptions about the social learning theory?

Answer 1

Behaviour s learned from experience
Can be:
- direct learning (first hand)
- indirect learning (watching other people)

humans learn by observation

Question 2

Describe the 4 mediational processes proposed by the social learning theory

Answer 2

1. Attention to the behaviour of the model
2. Retention of the behaviour in the memory
3. Motor reproduction of the behaviour in an appropriate situation
4. Motivation- the desire to repeat the behaviour due to vicarious reinforcement

Question 3

What is meant by the term vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 3

Indirect rewards, you see your role model receive a reward, which makes you more likely to copy the behaviour

Question 4

What is meant by the term vicarious punishment?

Answer 4

You see your role model receive a punishment, which makes you less likely to copy the behaviour

Question 5

How does identification work?

Answer 5

Someone similarly to the observer, who the observer admires, usually higher status than the observer

Question 6

What is the supporting evidence for this theory?

Answer 6

Bandura et al recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a Bobo doll

These children later behaved more aggressively towards the doll themselves

this supports the idea of vicarious reinforcement- an individual is more likely to imitate behaviour that they have observed being rewarded

Question 7

How can the supporting evidence be criticised?

Answer 7

The studies were conducted in a lab setting, encourages demand characteristics

Children may have simply been behaving in a way that they thought was expected- reduces validity

Question 8

How can this approach be applied?

Answer 8

SLT explain cultural differences in behaviour. Principles such as modelling imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others around them

Can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies

Question 9

Is this theory reductionistic or holistic?

Answer 9

holistic

Considers behavioural learning and cognition to provide a comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes

Accounts for the complexity of human behaviour