Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What are the principles of social learning theory?

Answer 1

• Vicarious reinforcement - we learn by observing the consequences of behaviour and then we imitate this behaviour.
• Modelling – role models display the behaviour to be imitated. Identification is when we associate ourselves with the role model and want to be like them.
• Behaviour seen to be rewarded it is more likely to be repeated.

Question 2

Outline Bandura’s bobo doll experiment.

Answer 2

Children who saw the model praised for being aggressive were more aggressive than those
who saw the model punished
Children were more likely to imitate a model of the same gender

Question 3

What are the mediational processes for learning?

Answer 3

Attention
Retention
Motor-reproduction
Motivation

Question 4

Outline attention

Answer 4

The extent to which we notice certain behaviours. More likely to pay attention to role models, people of high social status. E.g. highly famous footballers.

Question 5

Outline retention.

Answer 5

How well the behaviour is remembered. E.g. a memorable campaign

Question 6

Outline motor reproduction

Answer 6

The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour. E.g. being able to play football/imitate the footballer’s moves.

Question 7

Outline motivation

Answer 7

The will to perform the behaviour, determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished (vicariously reinforced) .

Question 8

What is meant by ‘latent learning’?

Answer 8

When the behaviour has been learnt however it may not be displayed until a later time

Question 9

What are the strengths of social learning theory?

Answer 9

+Bandura’s research was highly controlled and had some ecological validity because we know that children learn through adults.
+ Real world applications – can be used to explain how the media impacts on behaviour e.g. violent films and computer games
+ Cognitive factors – takes into account the role of cognitive processes so is a more comprehensive explanation than the behaviourist approach

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of social learning theory?

Answer 10

• Counterpoint: Research method – Bandura’s research was carried out on children who could have been responding to the demand characteristics of the experiment. Therefore, it might not explain aggression in everyday life so it may lack this ecological validity.
• Counterpoint: as we know the consumption of violent media does not result in violence. suggest other factors involved when this does occur other than observational learning.
• Counterpoint: Does not take into account biological influences in observational learning – for example research has shown mirror neurons in the brain allow us to empathise and imitate other people.

Question 11

Is SLT nature or nurture?

Answer 11

Nurture

Question 12

Is SLT determinism or free will?

Answer 12

Reciprocal determinism

Question 13

Is SLT reductionist or holistic?

Answer 13

Reductionist

Question 14

Is SLT nomothetic or idiographic?

Answer 14

Nomothetic

Question 15

Is SLT scientific or unscientific?

Answer 15

Scientific