Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Mediational Processes - Modelling

Answer 1

Behaviour is performed by role model and a mental image of how to carry out the behaviour is built

Question 2

Mediational Processes - Imitation

Answer 2

Copying/repeating a role model’s successful behaviour

Question 2

Mediational Processes - Identification

Answer 2

Seeing yourself as similar to/represented by the role model

Question 2

Mediational processes - Vicarious Reinforcement

Answer 2

Feeling second-hand pleasure by seeing the success of a role model

Question 3

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Aim

Answer 3

To investigate if social behaviours are acquired by watching and imitating the actions of a role model

Question 4

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Sample, Type

Answer 4

• 36 boys, 36 girls, ages 3-6 years old
• Laboratory experiment

Question 5

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Design

Answer 5

Matched Pairs - kids pre-tested for aggression levels in their everyday behaviour and then matched on score similarities

Question 6

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - IV & DV

Answer 6

• DV - number of physically/verbaly aggressive acts or mallet/gunplay acts against bobo doll
• IV - 1/3 shown aggressive model, 1/3 shown non-aggressive model, 1/3 shown no model (control)

Question 7

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Results

Answer 7

• Aggressive model - more imitative AND non-imitative aggressive responses to doll
• Girls more physically aggressive when model was male, but more verbally aggressive when model was female
• Boys imitated more physical aggression but little differences in verbal aggression across genders

Question 8

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Conclusion

Answer 8

Children are able to learn social behaviour such as aggression by observing the behaviour of another and learning from it

Question 9

Bandura’s Bobo Dolls (1961) - Vicarious Reinforcement follow-up

Answer 9

• Follow-up study
• Children saw actors being rewarded for violence
• Showed higher levels of aggression