Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What are the two assumptions of SLT?

Answer 1

• Behaviour can be learned through observational learning
• Mediational processes are involved in observational learning

Question 2

Observational learning

Answer 2

States that we can imitate a models behaviour by observing, copying or imitating it

Question 3

There are two factors which influence the extent to which we imitate behaviours we observe.

What are they?

Answer 3

1. Identification
2. Vicarious reinforcement & Vicarious punishment

Question 4

Why does identification influence the extent to which we imitate behaviours we observe?

Answer 4

• Identification states we are more likely to imitate the behaviour of a model who we feel similar to/identify with

Question 5

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 5

When we observe a model’s behaviour being rewarded and are therefore more likely to imitate it

Question 6

Vicarious punishment

Answer 6

When we observe a model’s behaviour being punished and therefore chose not to imitate the behaviour

Question 7

Mediational processes

Answer 7

Mental processes which can determine whether or not behaviour is imitated

Question 8

What are the 5 mediational processes?

Answer 8

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Motivation
4. Motor reproduction
5. Imitation

Question 9

What is the aim of the first two mediational processes?

Answer 9

To observe and understand the behaviour

Question 10

What is the aim of the final three mediational processes?

Answer 10

To imitate the behaviour, providing the motivation to do so is present

Question 11

What are the evaluation points for SLT?

4 strengths and 2 weaknesses

Don’t need all of them in an exam - Include as many as you can in the time period

Answer 11

Strengths
* Bandura’s study
* Application to real world
* Holism vs Reductionism
* Explains cultural differences in behaviour

Weaknesses
* Ignores biological factors - (Aggressiveness of boy Ps vs girl Ps in Bandura’s study)
* Difficult to observe mediational processes using the scientific method

Question 12

SLT AO3 - Bandura’s study

Answer 12

• Results of this experiment showed that observing a same sex role models, increased the likelihood that P would imitate the behaviour
• This shows the importance of identification, as a factor that influences whether or not we imitate the behaviour we observe, (more likely to identify with someone of the same sex)

Question 13

SLT AO3 - Holism vs Reductionism

Answer 13

• Takes more factors into account, in terms of explaining why we behave, (Ex: Mediational processes), than the behaviourist approach
• This means that SLT is a more comprehensive explanation of behaviour than the behaviourist approach, which fails to include cognitive factors

Question 14

SLT - AO3 - Cultural differences

Answer 14

• Different cultures have different rewards and punishments for different behaviour
• This could explain why people in collectivist cultures behave differently to those in individualistic cultures
• Behaviour which may be vicariously rewarded in a collectivist culture may be vicariously punished in an individualistic culture

Question 15

SLT - AO3 - Fails to account biological factors

Answer 15

• Bandura’s study = Significant piece of evidence for SLT
• Findings showed boys were more aggressive than girls, even though there were the same number of boy participants as girl participants
• If there were no other factors contributing to learning, then both boys and girls in aggressivbe condition would have imitated agressive behaviour

Question 16

SLT - AO3 - Difficult to observe mediational processes

Answer 16

• Mediational processes cannot be observed using the scientific method
• According to Popper’s hypothetico-deductive model of science, SLT, would therefore be unscientific, as mediational processes are unfalsifiable

Question 17

What do social learning theorists mean by imitation? [1]

Answer 17

• Imitation means copying the behaviour of a role model
• Extent to which a person will imitate a model depends on identification, vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment
• If a teenage girl identifies with Kim Kardashian, she may start to imitate the way she dresses