Learning Theory Flashcards
What does the social learning theory rest on?
The concept that behaviour is learnt through observation and imitation
What are role models?
People who model behaviour in social environments
What are the Mediational processes?
- Attention
- Retention
- Motor reproduction
- Motivation
What is it called when we learn from these observations?
Vicarious reinforcement
What was Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment?
In a overt lab study children were split into three groups and before playing with a doll witnessed a model either be aggressive or not aggressive or did not have a model at all
What were the results of Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment?
Children who saw an aggressive model were producing more acts of aggression
- males imitated aggression in male models more
- girls imitated physical aggression from males and verbal aggression from females
Evaluation of social learning theory?
- Methodological issue: Demand characteristics, a child was heard saying “that’s what they want us to do” which could affect the DV
- Counter research from other studies eg: classical learning theory
- Real world application when viewing children’s ability to watch violent media etc
