Lesson 4: Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Modelling

Answer 1

In order for social learning to take place models must carry out the behaviour to be learnt. A live model could be a parent, teacher or peer. A symbolic model could be someone in the media.

Question 2

Imitation

Answer 2

A lot of the behaviour people acquire is learnt through imitating the behaviour that is modelled by others.

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

We are more likely to imitate the behaviour of a model who we admire or who is similar to us in some way (e.g. same age and gender). In order to identify with the model, observers must feel that they are similar enough to the model that if they performed the same behaviour, the consequence would be the same for them as it was for the model.

Question 4

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 4

Individuals learn by observing the behaviour of others and the reward and
punishment they receive. People do not need to experience rewards or punishments directly in order to learn from them. People may learn behaviours, but not perform them because they have also learned that the behaviour is likely to be punished if displayed.

Question 5

Meditational processes

Answer 5

Social learning theorists argue that human behaviour couldn’t be fully understood without including the role of cognitive processes that happen between stimuli and responses. The mediational processes are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.

Behaviour wont be imitated if any of the four factors are missing.

Question 6

Bandura (1961) procedure

Answer 6

Bandura conducted a study involving 36 male and 36 female children aged 3-7 years of age. The children had to observe a model acting either aggressively or non aggressively with a bobo doll. Some of the children saw a same-sex model, others saw a different sex model. In the experimental conditions the model displayed aggressive acts towards the bobo doll such as striking it with a mallet and shouting “POW!”.
After the children observed these aggressive acts, they were made to feel frustrated. They were shown attractive toys but told they were not allowed to play with them. The children (one by one) were then taken to a room which had some toys including a bobo doll. The children were observed for 20 minutes.

Question 7

Bandura (1961) results

Answer 7

The results found that the children who observed the aggressive model reproduced the same aggressive behaviour towards the bobo doll, whereas the children who observed the non-aggressive model, showed no aggression to the bobo doll. 33% of children who observed and heard verbal aggression repeated what they had seen and heard. However 0% of children in the non aggressive group displayed verbal aggression. Boys were more aggressive than girls, and imitation of aggression was greatest when the model was the same gender as the observer (identification).

Question 8

Positive of social learning theory

Answer 8

• Social learning theory recognises the importance of both behavioural and cognitive factors (mediational processes) when examining how people learn new behaviours, unlike the behaviourist approach (classical and operant conditioning).

Question 9

Negatives of social learning theory

Answer 9

• Mediational factors have to be inferred so we cannot measure the extent of their influence. SLT does not try to explain mediational processes, it leaves this to cognitive psychologists.
• Social learning theory can be criticised because it does not take into account cause and effect. Studies have found that young people who have deviant attitudes seek out peers with similar attitudes, rather than becoming deviant because of their peers.
• Social learning theory sees behaviour as environmentally determined and so ignores the role of biology in behaviour. However, Bandura (1961) found in his experiment that boys were more aggressive than girls, regardless of the experimental situation they were in. Boys might be more aggressive because of the hormone testosterone which means it is biologically determined.
• Social learning theory is able to explain behaviours such as aggression, but not so able to explain the learning of abstract notions, e.g. fairness, justice etc. which cannot be observed directly

Question 10

Bandura experiment positives

Answer 10

• The study by Bandura was conducted in a laboratory, setting using observations therefore the study is highly controlled, and highly reliable.
• The experiment provides good evidence to support the social learning theory, shows how children learn new behaviours

Question 11

Bandura experiment negatives

Answer 11

• The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, and therefore, may lack, ecological validity, results may not be generalised to the wider population.
• participants made show, demand characteristics giving invalid results
• Ethical issues can be a problem in the study. Children are not protected from psychological harm. Children should have been debriefed after the study.