social learning theory Flashcards
Key assumptions of SLT
-they agree with the behaviourist that behaviour is learned through experience.
-they believe people learn through observation + imitation of others.
-learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly.
Vicarious reinforcement
-Reinforcement is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour.
-The learner observes a behaviour but most importantly observes the consequences of a behaviour.
The role of mediational processes
Attention- the extent to which we notice certain behaviours.
Retention- how well the behaviour is remembered.
Motor reproduction- the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
Motivation- the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the first behaviour was rewarded or punished.
Identification
-People are more likely to imitate people they identify with.
-The person they identify with is called a ‘MODEL’ and the process of imitating a role model is called modelling.
-A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/ or are attractive + have a high status.
Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961)- AO2
-36 boys and 36 girls, aged 3-6 years old.
-3 experimental groups: first are exposed to real-life aggressive models; second, observing the same models being aggressive on video; third, seeing an aggressive cartoon character.
-Found that children who observed the aggressive role model behaved more aggressively towards the bobo doll compared to the non-aggressive role model control group.
AO3
-Questions raised on why some individuals are chosen as role models rather than others
-Why some children wont reproduce the observed behaviours?- individual differences in the use of the mediation process.
-Influence media has on behaviour.
-SLT may be a better explanation for human, rather than animal, behaviour.
