Social Learning Approach

Question 1

Social Learning Theory by Bandura

Answer 1

• Learning occurs from observing and imitating others - MODELLING
• The mind, behaviour + environment all play a role in learning
  => THUS deals with major issues of ignoring cognitive process

Question 2

Vicarious Reinforcement

Answer 2

For indirect learning to take place, an individual observes the behaviour of others => Learner may imitate behaviour => generally imitation only occurs if the behaviour is rewarded not punishment

• THUS the learner observes a behaviour but most importantly the consequences of it as well

Question 3

The Role of Mediational Processes

Answer 3

• Mental factors intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new response is performed
• SLT is described as bridge between learning theory + cognitive approach due to this
• Bandura claimed ‘in order for social learning to take place, the observer must be able to form mental representations of the behaviour + its consequences’

Question 4

4 Conditions for Social Learning

Answer 4

(1) Attention - individual must notices someone in their environment
(2) Retention - individual must remember what they observed
(3) Motor Representation - must feel they are able to replicate the behaviour shown by the model
(4) Motivation - must feel to demonstrate the behaviour that they have observed

Question 5

Identification

Answer 5

The extent an individual related=s to a model + feels that they are similar
- The more similar => the more you feel you would get the same outcome to behaviour

A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive + have high status

Question 6

Bandura + Walters - Bobo Doll Study (A)

Answer 6

P: recorded behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a Bobo doll (hit w/ a hammer + shouted at it)

F: when pps were observed playing with various toys including the Bobo doll, they behaved much more aggressively towards it than those who observed a non-aggressive adult

Question 7

Bandura + Walters - Bobo Doll Study (B)

Answer 7

P: showed videos to child where an adult behaved aggressively towards a bobo doll in 3 groups
(1) saw adult rewarded (2) saw adult punished for behaviour (3) no consequences given

F: Order of aggressive behaviour => (1), (3), (2)

Question 8

AO3 of Bobo Doll Study - Strengths

Answer 8

• High control: more insight into cause + effect because we manipulate the environment + see its impact in lab studies => HIGH VALIDITY
• Replications: similar results consistently found => High RELIABILITY

Question 9

AO3 of Bobo Doll Study - Weaknesses

Answer 9

• Takes place in a lab so not like real life setting => likely wouldn’t react that way in real life => low ecological validity
• Bobo doll isn’t real so doesn’t elicit same empathy as another person
• Demand characteristics - found main role of doll was to hit it so acted as expected =. says little about children on daily basis
• Ethical issues
• Aggression or play?
• How long do effects last?

Question 10

SLT is more comprehensive account of learning than the behaviourist (S)

Answer 10

Recognises cognitive factors as classical + operant conditioning alone can’t account for how humans + animals store info + make judgement about when its best to perform them

SUGGESTS that SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation from mediational processes

Question 11

SLT underestimates biological approach (L)

Answer 11

• Bandura claimed biological diff. influence learning potential but learning determines environment
• Evidence suggest SLT is due to mirror neurons - allow us to empathise + imitate others

SUGGESTS biology is underemphasisied in SLT

Question 12

Explain cultural differences (S)

Answer 12

• SLT principles like modelling, imitation + reinforcement can account for how children learn cultural norms through their particular society
• Useful in understanding a range of behaviours e.g gender roles

THUS increases value of approach as it accounts for real world behaviour

Question 13

Approach is less deterministic than the behaviourists (S)

Answer 13

• Bandura emphasises reciprocal determinism - we are influenced by environment and we influence it through behaviours we choose to perform

SUGGESTS free will in how we behave + contrasts denial of free will in behaviourist approach

Question 14

Useful application (S)

Answer 14

• used to understand criminal behaviour + eating disorders
• useful in health campaigns => using appropriate models increase likelihood of changing behaviour

SUPPORTS social learning theory due to widespread application

Question 15

Support in Research (S)

Answer 15

Fox + Bailenson

=> found greater identification lead to more imitation of exercise behaviour in pps