Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Social Learning Theory

Answer 1

-Based upon an individual copying the behavior from another, modelling .
-Individuals witness others performing the behavior so see it to be socially desirable, this is called Vicarious learning

Question 2

Bandura (1961)

Answer 2

-Social learning theory is often associated with the work of Albert Bandura and his Bobo doll study
-He wanted to see the impact of young children witnessing violent acts committed by adults
- He found that when children observed a violent act they would imitate this if given the opportunity.

Question 3

Bobo Doll Study

Answer 3

• Tested 36 boys and 36 girls from the ages of 3-6
• They were split into three groups aggression model, non aggressive model and no model
• He found when the children played with the dolls there was more physical aggression shown if they had witnessed it before hand.

Question 4

Bobo doll study 1965

Answer 4

• In a later version of his study he found that if you rewarded the model for their behavior then the children would show greater aggression.
  -Observing the model is observational learning, yet observing the model being rewarded led to vicarious reinforcement .
  -Children were rewarded for imitating the models behavior leading to then being more likely to copy it.

Question 5

Application to criminal behavior

Answer 5

• His study suggested that if people observe criminal behavior then they will normalize it and imitate it
• More likely to imitate criminal behavior if they see people getting rewards for it
• However it fails to take into account the consequences- as will people be put off if they see others getting punished for crimes.

Question 6

Evaluation, Strength

Answer 6

Proposed the idea that criminality and other behaviors can be learnt indirectly.
Scientific research methods applied to study aggression with control groups showing limited aggressive behavior.

Question 7

Evaluation, weakness

Answer 7

This explanation is deterministic, as it assumes we have no free will over our own behavior
fails to explain how people who have not witnessed crime take place still commit crimes or why those who have witnessed it don’t.