Learning approaches: Social learning theory Flashcards
Social learning theory agrees with behaviourists that behaviour is learned from __________
experience
Bandura’s social learning theory proposed a different way in which people learn, through…
observation and imitation of others
Social learning theory suggests that learning occurs ________, through classical and operant conditioning
directly
Social learning theory suggests that learning occurs directly, through…
classical and operant conditioning
True/False: Bandura suggested that learning occurs only directly through classical and operant conditioning
False, it can occur indirectly too
What is social learning theory often described as?
The ‘bridge’ between behaviourist learning theory and the cognitive approach
Social learning theory focuses on how what are involved in learning?
Cognitive factors
SLT focuses on how cognitive factors _______ in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired
mediate
SLT focuses on how cognitive factors mediate in the learning process to…
determine whether a new response is acquired
How many meditational processes were identified by Bandura
4
Name the four mediational processes identified by Bandura
Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction and motivation
Attention
The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention
How well the behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction
The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
Motivation
The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
What do attention and retention relate to?
The learning of behaviour
What do motor reproduction and motivation refer to?
The performance of behaviour
True/False: Unlike traditional behaviourism, in SLT the learning and performance of behaviour need not to occur together
True
SLT says that observed behaviours may be stored by the observer and…
reproduced at a later time
SLT says that for indirect learning to take place what does an individual need to do?
Observe the behaviour of others
Vicarious reinforcement
When an individual observes a behaviour and the consequence of that behaviour to identify whether it is desirable or not
SLT says that imitation only generally occurs if behaviour is seen to be rewarded/punished
rewarded
When does vicarious reinforcement occur?
Generally when someone sees behaviour being rewarded
During vicarious reinforcement, the learner observes…
a behaviour but most importantly also the consequences of a behaviour
People are more likely to imitate people they ________ with
identify
People are more likely to imitate people they identify with, especially who?
Children
The person someone identifies with is called a ____ _____
role model
What is the process of imitating a role model called?
modelling
How does a person become a role model?
If they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have a high status
True/False: Role models may not necessarily be present in the environment
True
Role models may not necessarily be physically present in the environment. This has important implications for…
the influence of the media on behaviour
True/False: SLT recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning
True
True/False: Neither classical nor operate conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own
True
Humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to do what?
Make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions
Humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions. Which approach is this an example of?
Social learning theory
The fact that social learning theory recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning and humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions suggests what about social learning theory?
It provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes
True/False: The evidence base for social learning theory was gathered through field experiments
False, lab studies
Many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation of young children’s behaviour where?
In the lab
It has been suggested that because the main purpose of Bandura’s Bobo doll is to strike it, the children were doing what?
Simply behaving in a way they thought was expected
Lab studies are often criticised for their _________ nature
contrived
Lab studies are often criticised for their contrived nature. What does this mean?
Participants may respond to demand characteristics
The fact that evidence for SLT was gathered through lab studies suggests that the research may tell us…
little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life
Bandura emphasised r_________ d__________
reciprocal determinism
Bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism in what sense?
The sense that we are not merely influenced by our external environment but we also exert an influence upon it, through the behaviours we choose to perform
The element of choice suggested by reciprocal determinism suggests that there is some what in the way we behave?
Free will
How does Bandura’s emphasis on reciprocal determinism contrast the behaviourist approach?
The behaviourist approach denies the possibility of free will
SLT has been criticised for making too little reference to the influence of what on social learning?
Biological factors
True/False: Bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced our learning potential
True
Although Bandura claimed natural biological differencs ifluenced our learning potential, he thought that…
learning itself was determined by the environment
Research suggests that observational learning, of the kind that Bandura was talking about, may be the result of what?
Mirror neurons in the brain
What do mirror neurons in the brain allow us to do?
Empathise with and imitate other people
The fact that observational learning of the kind Bandura was talking about may be the result of mirror neurons in the brain allows us to empathise with and imitate other people suggests that biological influences on social learning were…
under-emphasised in SLT
True/False: Principles of SLT have been applied to a range of real-world behaviours
True
True/False: SLT is unable to explain cultural differences in behaviour
False,it can
SLT principles such as _________, _________ and _____________ can account for how children learn from others around them
modelling, imitation and reinforcement
SLT principles such as modelling, imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others around them (including/discluding the media)
including
The fact that SLT principles can account for how children learn from others around them can explain how cultural…
norms are transmitted through particular societies
Give an example of how SLT principles accounting for how children learn from others around them and explaining how norms are transmitted through particular societies can be useful in understanding a range of behaviours
Things such as how children come to understand their gender role
Principles of SLT have been applied to a range of real-world behaviour. How does this increase the value of the approach?
It can account for real-world behaviour
