SLT

Question 1

Assumptions:

Answer 1

> Albert Bandura agreed with the behaviourists in that he believed all behaviour is learned from experience.

> However his Social Learning theory (SLT) proposed that we learn through observation and imitation of others in a social context, thus social learning. It states that we learn directly, through classical and operant conditioning, but also indirectly.

Question 2

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 2

For indirect learning to take place the individual observes the behaviour of others. The learner may imitate this behaviour but, in general, only when it is seen to be rewarding (reinforced) rather than punished. Thus the individual observes the behaviour, but most importantly observes the consequences.

Question 3

The role of mediational processes

Answer 3

This approach is described as a bridge between traditional behaviourism and the cognitive approach. The mental processes that the approach talks about help mediate (i.e. intervene) in the learning process to determine whether a behaviour is worth acquiring. Four mental or mediational processes in learning were identified by Bandura people must go through before imitating aggression - ARRM

1. Attention-the extent to which we notice certain behaviour.
2. Retention-how well the behaviour is remembered.
3. Motor reproduction- the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
4. Motivation- the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

Question 4

Identification

Answer 4

People, especially children, are more likely to imitate the behaviour of someone they identify with. These are called role-models. This process is called modelling. A person becomes a role-model if they possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status. They may not be physically present in the environment, and this has important implications for the influence of the media on behaviour.

Question 5

bobo doll

Answer 5

The original Bobo doll study (Bandura et al. 1961) illustrates the concepts ofobservational learningandimitation. The children in the study saw the adult striking the doll as a role model and behaved in a similar way when they were placed in the same situation.
The later study (Bandura and Walters 1963) illustratesvicarious reinforcement. The children who had seen aggression rewarded with praise were more likely to imitate the aggression than the children in the no consequence control condition, and much more likely than the children in the ‘telling off’ condition (who say the aggression punished).