Social Learning Theory Flashcards
identification
people are more likely to imitate people they identify with
the person they identify is a role model and process of imitating is called modelling - the behaviour of the role model is also modelling
to become a role model - they have to possess a similar characteristic to the observer , be attractive or high status
they may not be physically present but are seen in the media
what is social learning theory
a way of explaining behaviour including direct and indirect reinforcement and combining learning theory with cog factors
Bandura agreed with behaviourists that behaviour is learned from experience.
BUT SLT proposed the idea that people learn in a different ways through observation and imitation of others
that learning occurs directly through classical / operant but also indirectly
what is vicarious reinforcement
indirect learning - the individual observed the behaviour of others.
the learner may imitate this behaviour but this only happens if the behaviour is rewarded rather than punished - vicarious reinforcement
therefore, the learner observes a behaviour but also the CONSEQUENCES of the behaviour
mediational processes
the SLT focuses on how mental factors are involved with learning. these mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.
MP:
1- attention: the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
2- retention: how well the behaviour is remembered
3- motor reproduction - ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
4- motivation: will to perform the behaviour , often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
first two relate to learning, last two relate to the consequences
the learning and the performance of behaviour don’t need to happen together
STRENGTH COGNITIVE FACTORS:
A strength of slt is that is recognises the importance of cog factors in learning
just classical or operant conditioning do not offer an adequate account of learning on its own. humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions.
this suggests that the SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the orle of mediational processes
COUNTERPOINT to cognitive factors
SLT is criticised for not making enough reference to the influence of biological factors on social learning.
although Bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced our learning potential, he thought learning was determined by the environment
but , recent research suggests that observational learning may be the result of mirror neurons in the brain - allowing us to empathise/ imitate other people
this suggests that biological influences on social learning were under emphasised in SLT
RELA WORLD APPLICATION STRENGTH
strength SLT principles have been applied to a range of real world behaviours
slt has advantage being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour
slt such as modelling , imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others and around them - including media, which can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies
this is useful to understand a range of behaviours such as how children come to understand their gender role
this increases the value of the approach as it can account for real world behaviour
LIMITATION - CONTRIVED LAB STUDIES
Limitation - the evidence which is is based on gathered through lab studies.
Many of Bandura’s ideas were developed though observation of young children’s behaviour in a lab
lab studies often are criticised for their contrived nature - pp’s may respond to demand characteristics.
suggested that the bobo doll research, because the main purpose is to strike it , the children were just behaving in a way that they thought was expected.
this suggests that the research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life
reciprocal determinism
bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism in that we arenot just influenced by our external environment but we also exert an influence upon it with behaviours we perform
the element of choice suggests some free will in how we behave
contrasts to the behaviourists approach which denies the possibility of free will
