SCT (Bandura) Flashcards
Introduction to SCT (Social cognitive theory refers to a theory developed by Albert Bandura which states that all…)
Social cognitive theory refers to a theory developed by Albert Bandura which states that all humans learn certain behaviours and attitudes through observing and/or imitating their environment “observational learning”.
Self-efficacy SCT
Individuals believe that they can learn these observed behaviours
Vicarious reinforcement SCT
Observation of a model behaving positively or achieving something desirable → individual will recreate this behaviour
Reciprocal determinism
Reciprocal interaction between personal factors (biological or cognitive events), behaviour and environment
Attention
Individual observes these model behaviours
Retention
Storing info about the behaviour in memory
Motivation
Purpose to imitate these behaviours due to some desirable consequence
Reproduction
Ability to repeat the behaviour in the future in different contexts
Aim of Bandura
The aim of this study was to see whether children from 3-5 years of age would replicate the same positive or negative behaviour of an adult model with a Bobo doll toy.
How does Bandura link to SCT?
This study supports SCT by showing that observation learning has an effect on one’s behaviour → children seemed to be imitating the role model (retention) and there was motivation (vicarious reinforcement, there was no negative consequence for either of the models’ actions which affected their decision to “copy” the behaviour in the future)
Supporting theory that humans learn specific behaviours through observations → a potential way for how children learn aggressive behaviour is by mimicking their parents
Procedure of Bandura
The procedure started by measuring their starting level of aggression (control group) and using a matched-pairs design to split them into 3 even groups. The script followed as the children were put in a room with a male/female actor who either acted violently towards a doll, acted in a non-aggressive way, or a room where no actor was present. The children were then moved to a room full of toys but were told not to play with them, heightening their level of aggression.
Findings of Bandura
The results showed that children who had witnessed the aggressive behaviour carried out by the actor towards the doll were more likely to ‘copy’ it compared to those who were in the control group/saw the actor acting in a non-aggressive way.
