Learning Approaches: Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What is social learning theory?
A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.
Imitation:
Copying the the behaviour of others
Identification
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model
Modelling
From the observer’s perspective modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model. From the role model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.
Vicarious reinforcement
Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
Mediational processes
Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response
How did Bandura agree with behaviourists and what else did he propose?
Agreed that much of our behaviour is learned from experience.
SLT suggested that learning occurs directly through the two types of conditioning but also indirectly through observation and imitation
What are the four mediational processes?
Attention- the extent to which we notice 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, often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.
What was the aim of the Bobo doll experiment?
To study if social behaviours can be acquired by observation.
Stage 1: Modelling Behaviour
24 children watched a male or female doll behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll and they attacked him in a distinctive manner.
Another 24 were exposed to a non-aggressive model who played in a quiet and subdued manner
The final 24 were used as a control group and not exposed to any model
Stage 2: Aggression Arousal
All the children were taken to a room with relatively attractive toys. As soon as the child started to play with toys, the experimenter told the child that these were the very best toys and she decided to reserve them for the other children.
Stage 3: Test for Delayed Imitation
The next room contained some aggressive toys and some non-aggressive toys.
The child was in the room for 20 minutes and their behaviour was observed at 5 second intervals
Results:
Children who observed the aggressive model acted far more aggressive responses
The girls in the aggressive model condition showed more physical aggression if the model was male but verbal if it was a girl.
Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls, for girls the evidence was not as strong.
Findings:
Children are able to learn social behaviour such as aggression through the process of observation learning.
Limitations of the experiment:
- The model and child are strangers- unlike modelling in a family
- Cumberbatch found that children who had never played with the Bobo doll were x5 more likely to be aggressive- the novelty value
- Cannot be sure if their were long term consequences.
- Ignored that boys in relation to girls exhibited more imitative aggression.
