Social Learning Theory

Question 1

key assumptions

Answer 1

• behaviour is learned through experience
• specifically through observation + imitation within a social context

Question 2

SLT

Answer 2

• modelling
• imitation
• identification
• vicarious reinforcement
• mediational processes:
• attention
• retention
• motor reproduction
• motivation

Question 3

modelling - SLT

Answer 3

• models must carry out the behaviour to be learnt
• a live model could be a parent, teacher or peer
• symbolic model = someone in the media

Question 4

imitation - SLT

Answer 4

• behaviour learnt through copying the behaviour that is modelled by others

Question 5

identification - SLT

Answer 5

• we are more likely to imitate the behaviour of a model who we admire or who is similar to us in some way
• e.g. age, gender
• in order to identify w/ the model, observers must feel that they are similar enough to the model
• that if they perform the same behaviour
  = consequence would be the same for them as it was for the model

Question 6

vicarious reinforcement - SLT

Answer 6

• individuals learn by observing the behaviour of others + reward/ punishment they receive
• people tend to not need to experience rewards or punishments directly to learn
• people may learn behaviours but not perform them
  = cus they’ve learned that the behaviour is likely to be punished if displayed

Question 7

attention - mediational processes:

Answer 7

• observer must first pay attention to the model + observe

Question 8

retention - - mediational processes:

Answer 8

• then observer has to remember the behaviour being modelled

Question 9

motor reproduction - - mediational processes:

Answer 9

• they have to be physically + psychologically capable of reproducing this behaviour

Question 10

motivation - - mediational processes:

Answer 10

• must be motivated to imitate the behaviour
• cus they want the same reward the model received

Question 11

procedure - Bandura’s study

Answer 11

• conducted a study involving 36 male + female children
• aged 3-7
• children observed a model acting aggressively or non aggressively w/ a bobo doll
• some saw same sex model, others saw a different sex model
• experimental: model displayed aggressive acts e.g. shouting POW! or striking it
• after children observed this aggression
  = made to feel frustrated
• shown attractive toys but not allowed to play with them
• children, one by one, then taken to a room w/ bobo doll

Question 12

findings - Bandura’s study

Answer 12

• results found that children who observed the aggressive model reproduced the same aggressive behaviour
• those who observed non-aggressive model, showed no aggression
• 33% who heard verbal aggression repeated this
• boys were more aggressive than girls
• imitatation of aggression was the greatest when the model was the same gender as obsered

Question 13

ads

Answer 13

• criminal behaviour
• comprehensive view

Question 14

disads

Answer 14

• cause + effect
• other factors
• lab studies

Question 15

criminal behaviour - ads

Answer 15

• SLT has provided a greater understanding of how criminal behaviour is learnt
• psych found that criminals seem to engage in more criminal behaviour when they are exposed to a model that they can highly identify with
• if the model receives a positive outcome/ reward for committing crime
• this increases the likelihood that the observer will also commit the crime via vicarious reinforcement

Question 16

comprehensive view - ads

Answer 16

• SLT is good because it gives a more comprehensive view of human learning when compared to operant + classical conditioning
• SLT recognises the importance of both behavioural + cognitive factors
• when examining how people learn behaviour

Question 17

cause + effect - disads

Answer 17

• criticised because it doesn’t take into account cause + effect
• e.g. research has found that increased associations w/ peers can increase the likelihood of delinquent behaviour in young people through learning poor behaviour
• however, we can’t assume that delinquency is caused by SLT alone
• other factors could cuase delinquency such as poor attitude that the person has held before
• psychs found that young people who have deviant attitudes tend to seek out peers w/ similar attitudes
  = account for teh delinquency behaviour

Question 18

other factors - disads

Answer 18

• ignores other potential influences on behaviour
• e.g. SLT ignores the role of biology or genetics which could cause people to behave in certain wait
• e.g. Bandura found that boys were more aggressive than girls, regardless of experimental condition
• this could be due to testosterone + SLT would ignore this

Question 19

lab studies - disads

Answer 19

• many of Bandura’s studies took place in lab settings
• they’re often criticsed for that parts knowing that they;re in a study = increases likelihood of showing demand characteristics
• suggested that in relation to the Bobo doll study
• main purpose was the hit the doll
  = maybe children were simply behaving in a way that they thought was expected
  = research may lack ecological valdiity
• tells us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life