Social learning theory

Question 1

Social learning theory

Answer 1

It explains how behavior can be learnt and was proposed by Bandura.

Question 2

Key points of learning theory 1/2

Answer 2

Modelling- Social learning requires a person to model or carry out the behavior so that the observer can learn the behavior . The model can be live or they can be symbolic such as a TV character, models provide examples of behavior which can be learnt through imitation.

Imitation- Children learn behaviour through imitation that are modelled by others and this tends to be more rapid then operant or classical conditioning . Sucessful imitation often relies on key factors.

• the charcaertsics of the model (age, ethnicity etc the closer to the person learning the better)
• the observers ability to perform the behavior shown
• the consequences of the behavior that are observed .

Question 3

Key points of learning theory 2/2

Answer 3

identification- the extent to which the observer relates to the model and feels that they are similar to them, this means they feel like they will achieve the same outcome as the model. Children are likely to identify with a model of the same sex as themselves for social learning to be effective.

vicarious reinforcement- children observe the consequences of the action for others so they don’t need to experience punishment or reinforcement directly and will carry out the behavior if the model gets rewarded.

meditational processes- social learning theory says cognitive processes are important so the observer mist form a mental representation of the action being carried out by the model and the outcome. they involve the following points

• attention they need to pay attention and notice the models behavior
• retention, they need to remember the models behavior
• motor reproduction, they need to able to perform the behavior
• motivation, the observer must be willing to perform the behavior due to the rewards.

Question 4

Bobo doll study method

Answer 4

Bandura carried out an experiment involving 72 children, 36 male and 36 female. They where aged 37-69 months old and they all observed a aggressive or non aggressive adult models and where tested for imitative learning in the absence of the model.

Half the children watched an adult model behave aggressively to to the BOBO doll while half watched the adult model behave non aggressively to it.

The aggressive model displayed physically aggressive behavior such as hitting it with a mallet and was verbally aggressive saying things such as POW.

After this the children seeing the aggressive acts where made to be frustrated by being shown toys but being told they weren’t allowed to play with them.

One by one the children where taken to a room full of toys such as a mallet, dart gun and other non aggressive toys alongside a BOBO doll. They where observed for 20 minutes.

Question 5

Bobo doll study findings and conclusion

Answer 5

Results showed children exposed to aggressive behavior reproduced the same aggressive behavior towards the BOBO doll. Those who observed the non aggressive model showed no aggression to the BOBO doll.
33% who heard verbal aggression repeated what they had heard and said POW and repeated the verbal aggression
However none of the non aggressive group did this

In a follow up study children observed a model being rewarded for the aggressive behavior, this increased the likelihood of the child being aggressive to the BOBO doll.
Boys seemed to be more aggressive then girls and imitation of aggression was the highest when the model was the same gender as the observer.
Aggression can be learnt by social learning was the conclusion.

Question 6

Strengths of social learning theory

Answer 6

• ) Helped us learn how criminal behavior is learnt, as they engage in more criminal behavior if they have a model to identify with. If the model receives a reward for committing a crime they are more likely to commit crime due vicarious reinforcement.
• ) It gives a more comprehensive view of human learning compared to operant and classical conditioning , social learning theory recognises the importance of both behavioral and cognitive factors when looking at how people learn new behaviors
• )It is less deterministic then the behaviorist approach as it emphasises reciprocal determinism, in which we are not only influenced by our external surroundings but exert influence onto it. This means it includes an element of free will in the way we behave as it takes into account we choose which models to copy.

Question 7

weaknesses of social learning theory

Answer 7

• ) Social learning theory does not take into account cause and effect as research has found that increased association with peers can increase the likelihood delinquent behavior as they learn from their peers but other factors such as deviant attitudes could be a factor and lead to them interacting with the delinquent group in the first place.
• ) It ignores other influences such as genetics and biology which can influence peoples behavior such as Bandura finding boys being more aggressive then girls which may be due to hormone differences.
• ) Many of Bandura’s ideas came from observing children in lab studies which may have led to demand characteristics. An example is the BOBO doll is meant to be hit as that is the objects purpose so the children may have behaved in a way they thought was expected. The studies may have lacked ecological validity as it tells us little about how they learn aggression in real life.