Social Learning Theory Flashcards
what are the basic assumptions of the social learning theory?
-behaviour is learned from the environment, so genetics aren’t regarded
-behaviour is learned from observing others and the reinforcement/punishment they receive
what was Bandura’s research?
Bobo doll experiment
-found that children who observed aggressive behaviour acted more aggressively when observed, and boys acted more aggressively than girls
greater level of imitation if the observed was the same gender as the observer
what are the key concepts of the social learning theory?
1 - imitation
2 - identification
3 - modelling
4 - vicarious reinforcement
what is imitation?
when a person observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it
what is identification?
when a person is influenced by another because hey are in some way similar / they wish to be like them
what is modelling?
when someone is influential on an individual in some way they are a model. when the observed behaviour is imitated, its called modelling
what is vicarious reinforcement?
describes the reinforcement an observer sees the model receiving, as they will now want the same reward
what are the 4 elements of the mediating process documented by Bandura?
-attention
-retention
-reproduction
-motivation
what is attention as an aspect of the mediating process?
a behaviour must grab our attention for us to replicate it since we observe many behaviours daily
what is retention as an aspect of the mediating process?
you must remember the behaviour witnessed to imitate it
what is reproduction as an aspect of the mediating process?
we need to be physically able to imitate a behaviour in order to replicate it
what is motivation as an aspect of the mediating process?
the rewards or punishments will be considered by the observer, if the reward outweighs the cost, its more likely to be imitated
what is some research on the social learning theory?
-Bandura et al - Bobo doll
-Ost & Hugdahl - acquiring a vomiting phobia, witnessed his grandfather vomiting as he was dying, shows how phobias are made through social learning
nature or nurture?
-nurture
-observe role models
useful?
-yes
-explains certain behavioural influences
