Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What does the social learning theory suggest and who suggested it ?

Answer 1

Bandura - your behaviour is influenced by those around you
- you learn through imitation of others
-behaviour is environmentally determined

Question 2

When do we imitate

Answer 2

-We imitate people we hold in high esteem/ role models
-imitate behaviour that is shown to be successful or positively reinforced
-more likely to imitate someone of similar age and same sex

Question 3

Outline and explain the BoBo doll experiment

Answer 3

Controlled lab experiment (observation)
Independent group design
-24 kids watched aggressive model of adult beating up BoBo doll
-24- watched non aggressive model
-24 didn’t watch any model (control group)

The kids who watched the aggressive model then acted aggressively when put in the room with the doll (kicking and punching) this shows how we learn from our environment and imitate behaviour of those around us.

Question 4

What are Meditational process’

Answer 4

long ARRM
A- attention . Have to pay attention to doll
R- retention. Observer has to retain (remember) what they saw, mental prep.
R- reproduction. Observer has to be capable of being able to reproduce the behaviour and have the opportunity to do so.
M- motivation. Think you might get a punishment or reward.

Question 5

Evaluation of social learning theory

Answer 5

✔️- real life implications - gave age restriction on movies, TV, video games etc
-scientific, controlled lab experiment BoBo doll

✖️-doesn’t take into account individual differences if the kids. Some kids may have already been naturally more aggressive than other kids
-ethical issues - not kept anonymous, psychological harm, age of consent.
- lack ecological validity as was done in lab so may not reflect natural behaviour.