social learning theory Flashcards
observational learning - P1, A01
Social learning theory explains that human behaviour is acquired as a result of observational learning of an authority figure or a role model and replicating their behaviour
observation is an active process in which the observer chooses to focus their attention on the modelled behaviour and watching it
the observer them imitates this observed behaviour
imitation is copying observed behaviour
in social learning theory imitation is the most important mechanism of learning
once behaviour has been observed and stored it can be reproduced whenever the situation is appropriate
study evidence from bandura (1961) - P1, A03
evidence for social learning theory comes from Bandura in 1961
Bandura found that children who had witnessed the aggressive model were likely to completely or partially imitate the aggression show by the role model
therefore, the results from Bandura’s study show that aggression can be acquired through observation and imitation of role models and authority figures when they have been observed to carry out aggressive behaviour and actions
stages of social learning theory - P2, A01
Social learning theory explains that learnt behaviours are acquired through attention, retention, reproduction and motivation
attention is when an individual pays attention to the behaviour of the role model
retention is when the behaviour of the role model is stored in an individuals memory - this is the main cognitive element of social learning theory
reproduction is when the behaviour is repeated in an appropriate situation
motivation is when the behaviour is repeated because of vicarious reinforcement
explaining the rise in anorexia - P2, A03
the stages of social learning theory may be able to explain the rise in anorexia cases due to how the media portrays the models which they use
the individual will pay attention to the models (seeing them as there role models) being used by the media, the majority of these models are skinny, this will make individuals think that in order to be beautiful and have there body used to model clothes, they also need to be skinny and in order to do this they need to stop eating and will develop anorexia
individuals will retain the thought of being skinny and feel as though they also want to be like the role models so retain the thought of stopping to eat
over time, the behaviour of not eating will be repeated and they will start to become skinnier so see changes in their appearance
this will cause the behaviour to be repeated because they are getting the outcome which they want of starting to look like there role models
therefore, this means that social learning theory is able to explain the rise in anorexia due to the media always using skinny models which people see and look up to and start to stop eating in order to look like these models
vicarious reinforcement - P3, A01
Social learning theory explains that behaviour is more likely to be modelled if there is vicarious reinforcement
vicarious reinforcement is experienced when an observer witnesses the model being rewarded in some way for the behaviour which is being observed
supporting evidence, Bandura 1965 - P3, A03
this is supported by study evidence from Bandura’s 1965 study
In Bandura’s 1965 study, he found that children who saw the adult role model who was acting in aggressive way be scolded and spanked with a rolled up magazine by the second adult were significantly less aggressive than those children who witnessed an aggressive role mode be praised with a drink and chocolate
therefore, this study evidence shows that when a role model is rewarded for behaviour, this is more likely to be copied by the individuals observing because they can see the role model getting a positive outcome of a reward for the behaviour which they are carrying out, so they want this reward too so are more inclined to carry out this behaviour
alternative explanation for social learning theory - P4, A01
An alternative explanation of human behaviour is classical conditioning where people learn through association
if an individual pairs a neutral stimulus with a unconditioned stimulus to produce a unconditioned reaction, over time and repeated pairing this neutral stimulus will become the conditioned stimulus and produce a conditioned reaction
for example when chocolate wrappers are paired with chocolate they can become conditioned stimuli and trigger the same salivation response as chocolate itself
supporting evidence for alternative theory - P4, A03
This alternative is supported by study evidence from Pavlov
Pavlov demonstrates classical conditioning of salivation responses in his studies of dogs
Watson and Rayner also demonstrated that a fear response could be conditioned in a human baby towards a white rat
therefore, this is important because it means that behaviours can be learnt through association of a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response after repeated pairing and there is study evidence to support this
weakness 1 of SLT
one weakness of social learning theory is evidence that genetic factors are important as well as environmental influences
Kenneth Kendler showed in 2015 that identical twins are more similar in their levels of aggression than non-identical twins
this strongly suggests that individual differences in social behaviour like aggressiveness are genetically influenced and not simply a product of different experiences of modelling
therefore, social learning theory is not a complete explanation for the acquisition of behaviour
weakness 2 of SLT
one weakness of social learning theory is that it is fairly reductionist
social behaviour has multiple influences, including genetic predispositions, social and cultural contexts as well as modelling
social learning theory focuses very much on modelling and ignores a large amount of other important factors
however, social learning theory is less reductionist that classical or operant conditioning because it takes account of cognitive processes that mediate whether modelled behaviour is imitated
therefore, social learning theory can never be a complete explanation for the acquisition of social behaviour
