social learning theory Flashcards
what is the SLT?
a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct & indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
what is vicarious reinforcement?
reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour, this is a key factor in imitation
what is imitation?
coping the behaviour of others
what are the 4 mediational process?
- attention - whether behaviour is noticed
- retention - whether behaviour is remembered
- motor reproduction - being able to do it
- motivation - the will to perform the behaviour
what is identification?
when an observer associates themselves with a role model & wants to be like the role model
what is modelling?
from the observer’s perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model. from the role model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer
what was Bandura’s research?
kids either saw an adult behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll or an adult behaving non-aggressively towards doll
when given own doll those who saw aggressive behaviour acted much more aggressive towards doll
what was Bandura & Walter’s research?
kids saw adult who was rewarded, punished or there was no consequence
when given own doll the children who saw aggression rewarded were much more aggressive
what is the cognitive factors strength?
-it recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning,
-neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own because cognitive factors are omitted,
-humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions,
-this shows that SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes.
what is the counterpoint to cognitive factors?
-SLT has been criticised for making too little reference to the influence of biological factors on social learning,
-recent research suggests that observational learning is controlled by mirror neurons in the brain, which allow us to empathise with and imitate other people,
-this suggests that SLT may make too little reference to the influence of biological factors on social learning.
what is the contrived lab studies limitation?
-the evidence on which it is based was gathered through lab studies.
-many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation of young children’s behaviour in bab settings and this raises the problem of demand characteristics,
-the main purpose of a Bobo doll is to hit it. so if the children in those studies may have been behaving as they thought was expected,
-this suggests that the research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
what is the real-world application strength?
-SLT principles have been applied to a range of real-world behaviours,
-social learning principles can account for how children learn from other people around them, as well as through the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted,
-this has proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours, such as how children come to understand their gender role by imitating role models in the media,
-this increases the value of SLT as it can account for real-world behaviour.
what is the reciprocal determinism strength?
-Bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism - we are influenced by our environment, but we also exert an influence upon it through the behaviours we choose to perform,
-this element of choice suggests that there is some free will in the way we behave,
-this contrasts with the behaviourist approach which denies the possibility of free will.
