SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Flashcards
what was albert banduras belief
he believed that new patterns of behavior could be acquired not only through direct experience but also by observing one’s behavior.
who ran the bobo doll study
albert bandura
describe the term “modeling” in the social learning theory approach
in order for social learning to take place, someone must carry out the attitude or behaviour to be learned. individuals that perform this are referred to as models. there are different types of model
A live model which may be someone like a parent
or a symbolic model which may be someone displayed in the media. the person sees this model and reproduces it in a process called imitation
describe the term “imitation” in the social learning theory approach.
although a certain amount of learning takes place through direct reinforcement, much of what children learn is aquired through immitation of attitudes and behaviour that are moddled by parents and significant others. in this approach behaviour can be rapidly learned in comparison to conditioning.
what are the key determinants of weather a behaviour is imitated or not
-the characteristics of the model
-the observers’ perceived ability to preform that behaviour
-the observed consequences of that behavior
in response to the key determinants of weather a behavior is imitated or not. describe an ideal model.
-similar age
-same sex
-similar personality
-them getting praise after completing the behaviour
describe the term identification in the social learning theory approach
identification refers to the extent to which an individual relates to a model. and feels that they are simular to that individual. they have to feel they are so simular that they could reproduce the same behaviour at the same level of capability.
what did Shutts et al suggest about identification in children
Shutts suggested that children are more likely to identify with models who are similar and most preferably same sex.
describe the term Vicarious Reinforcement
bandura and Walters noted that children who observed a model rewarded for aggressive behaviour were much more likely to imitate for the same situation but where the model is punished. Bandura called this Vicarious reinforcement, IE- individuals learn about the likely consequences that may happen in a result of imitation. and then adjust the behavior appropriately.
why did bandura feel that social learning differs from other learning approaches?
bandura believed that it requires special meditational processes. bandura claimed that, in order for social learning to take place, the observer must form mental representations of the behavior displayed by the model and the probable consequences in terms of expectation. when appropriate opportunity arise, the individual may display the behaviour.
describe and explain the key study produced by Bandura Et Al (1961)
PROCEDURE
Bandura et al carried out an experiment involving children who observed aggressive and non-aggressive adult models and then were tested for imitative learning in the model absence. Half the children were exposed to aggressive actions towards a Bobo doll and the other half were exposed to non-agressive models.
following this exposure they were taken to a room filled with toys that they weren’t allowed to play with and then to another room with the bobo doll.
FINDINGS
children who observed the aggressive model reproduced a good deal of physical and verbal aggressive behavior resembling that model.
1/3 of the agressive group used verbal aggression but 0/3 in the non aggressive group did this.
why did Banduras studies have low ecological validity
it was easy for participants to respond to demand characteristics, thus if people do this their display was not accurate to their behavior. the lab settings were unrealistic making behaviour lack validity.
how have the principles of social learning been applied in real life situations
Akers suggests that the probability odf someone engaging in criminal activity increases when exposed to models who commit criminal behavior. for example violence in adolescent gangs is often awarded. this increases our understanding of criminal behaviour and the criminal mind which can help prevent future crimes.
support for banduras principle of similar to self models having more of an influence on imitation.
Study by: fox and bailenson
they found evidence for this using computer-generated “virtual” humans engaging in exercise or merely loitering. models looked either similar or dissimilar to the individual. participants seeing the similar model in exercise engaged in more exercise in the 24 hours following the experiment compared to the dissimilar model condition. this showed that greater identification leads to more learning as bandura said. this supports his theory.
