social learning theory

Question 1

define ‘role model’

Answer 1

a person looked up to by another as someone who they can identify with as an example to be imitated due to admiring them and being of higher status

Question 2

state 3 examples of characteristics of a role model

Answer 2

• same age or older
• higher social status
• same gender

Question 3

state 2 examples of characteristics of an observer

Answer 3

• low self esteem
• self efficacy

Question 4

state the 4 stages of social learning

Answer 4

attention
retention
reproduction
motivation

Question 5

describe ‘attention’

Answer 5

the observer pays attention to the role model in order to learn from them

Question 6

describe ‘retention’

Answer 6

• the behaviour being modelled is retained by the observer
• mental rehearsal may be used to remember complicated actions
• so the behaviour is not copied immediately but may emerge later

Question 7

describe ‘reproduction’

Answer 7

• having the ability to reproduce the behaviours retained
• people with low self esteem are more likely to imitate
• must have self efficacy to believe that they have the skills to reproduce

Question 8

describe ‘motivation’

Answer 8

• comes from external, internal and vicarious reinforcement
• more likely to imitate if motivated by reinforcement

Question 9

define ‘vicarious reinforcement’

Answer 9

if a role model’s behaviour is rewarded it is more likely to be imitated in order to get the same reward

Question 10

define ‘external reinforcement’

Answer 10

If a behaviour is rewarded it will be repeated.

Question 11

define ‘internal reinforcement’

Answer 11

Behaviour is more motivating if some internal need is satisfied, such as excitement.

Question 12

define ‘vicarious learning’

Answer 12

If an individual is rewarded for carrying out a certain behaviour then another individual may copy and so we learn through others’ mistakes or successes.

Question 13

define ‘vicarious punishment’

Answer 13

engaging in a behaviour is weakened after having observed the negative consequences of another engaging in that behaviour.

Question 14

what is a strength of social learning theory (PEECA)?
- supporting evidence

Answer 14

a strength of social learning theory is that it is supported by evidence from Bandura’s 1961 study. they found that when children observed an aggressive role model e.g. hitting a bobo doll, they imitated this compared to a non aggressive role model. therefore, this supports the idea that children can learn by copying role model’s behaviour as they think this is the correct way to behave. however, the research lacks generalisability. this is because the study was only carried out on children. therefore, findings cannot represent how adults learn new behaviours.

Question 15

what is a strength of social learning theory (PEE)?
- compliment

Answer 15

a strength of social learning theory is that, unlike classical conditioning, it explains behaviour in different contexts. for example, in some situations, behaviour is rewarded and in other situations it is punished. therefore, this explains why aggressive behaviour occurs as in some contexts it is positively reinforced.

Question 16

what is a weakness of social learning theory (PEE)?
- bandura criticism

Answer 16

a weakness of social learning theory is that it doesn’t explain how learning occurs without the presence of a role model. for example, in bandura’s study the control group had varied aggression levels which suggests that aggressive behaviour was occurring without imitation. therefore, social learning theory could be an incomplete explanation of how behaviours are learned.

Question 17

what is a weakness of social learning theory (PEE)?
- opposing study

Answer 17

a weakness of social learning theory is that the study by Christianson opposes it. in Kung San aggression was rare. there is no value on aggressive behaviour and parents do not use physical punishment so there are no social norms on it and children don’t learn it from role models. therefore, this suggests that social learning theory in terms of aggression may only be relevant to western societies, meaning that there is an issue of cultural bias present.

Question 18

what is a different theory to social learning theory? (PEE)

Answer 18

an alternate theory is operant conditioning where behaviour is learnt through the result of consequences. whilst they both use vicarious learning, social learning theory suggests that chunks of behaviour can be learned in one go and includes cognitive processes. in comparison, operant conditioning is limited to the use of reinforcement and a reward is needed for behaviours to develop.

Question 19

what is a strength of social learning theory (PEE)?
- application

Answer 19

a strength of social learning theory is that there are practical applications. for example, the watershed technique refers to inappropriate programmes only being shown after 9pm so that children cannot pay attentions to criminal/antisocial behaviours and imitate them. therefore, this means that society will be kept safer and children won’t be exposed to inappropriate scenes.

Question 20

explain one strength and one weakness of social learning theory (4 marks)

Answer 20

one strength is that there are practical applications. for example, the watershed technique can be used where inappropriate/violent shows are only on after 9pm. therefore, children would not be likely to watch these and observe and imitate the behaviours presented such as aggression.
a weakness is that could be reductionist. this is because it fails to explain how behaviour is learnt without the presence of a role model. for example, people who are not exposed to the media might also develop eating disorders. therefore, this suggests that there are other factors that contribute to behaviour such as genetics, making SLT an incomplete explanation.

Question 21

describe why a sticker chart may not be working for a child who is rewarded when they sit quietly and allowed to play football if they collect 5 stickers at the end of the week. (2 marks)

Answer 21

a reason that the sticker chart isn’t working is because it is not consistent enough. the child is only rewarded with football at the end of the week meaning they may become bored, especially if a sticker is not given every single time they are quiet, meaning it isn’t positively reinforced. in order to be motivating, token economy should be used every time the behaviour occurs.