Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Bandura

Answer 1

• We learn through experience but also the actions/behaviours of others around us
  1) Imitation- One person copies another
  2) Identification - Copying behaviour devlops as person sees themselves in another
  **3) Modelling- **Socially designed as behaviour that may be desirable , the power to define who/what the model is
  4) Vicarious reinforcement- A person imitates a model because the model appears to gain rewards, imitating behaviour is more likely to be repeated
  5) Mediating processes- Mental processes which operate throughout the process of imitation

Question 2

Mediating Process

Answer 2

• People don’t simply observe behaviour but there is some kind of inward dialogue/ discussion inwardly before occurs
  1. Attention- a person has to notice a particular before its copied
  2. Retention- Behaviour must be stored/ retained in memory
  3. Reproduction- The *physical ability *to carry out that behaviour
  **4. Motivation- ** the rewards and the costs associated with imitation of behaviour

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

+ Cognitive Factors
- Contrived lab studies
- Real-world aplication

Question 4

+ Cognitive Factors

Answer 4

• SLT recognises the importance of cognitive factors (unlike c+o conditioning)
• Humans and animals store information about behaviours of others and use it to make judgements
• Suggests SLT provides a more comprehensive role of human learning by recognising mediational processes
  - Biological influences on SLT were under emphasised

Question 5

- Contrived lab studies

Answer 5

• Evidence on which SLT is based was gathered through lab studies
• ideas developed through observing young children in labs
• This was criticised for their contrived (artificial) nature where ppts may respond to demand chararcteristics e.g Bobo Doll

Question 6

+ Real- World appliction

Answer 6

• SLT has been applied to a range of real world behaviours
• Its able to explain cultural differences in behaviour and can account for how children learn from others around them e.g media explaining how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies
• Proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours for children e.g gender role
• Increases value of SLT as it accounts for real world behaviour