Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Who came up with the social learning theory

Answer 1

Bandura

Question 2

Assumption of slt

Answer 2

Learn by observing others + imitating behaviour

Question 3

Imitation

Answer 3

When someone copies someone else’s behaviour

Question 4

Modelling

Answer 4

Someone performs a behaviour which is imitated

Question 5

Factors affecting observational learning :

Answer 5

1. Identification = ppl more likely to imitate a model if they feel similar to them
2. Vicarious reinforcement

Question 6

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 6

When someone imitates model because the observe model’s behaviour being rewarded

Question 7

Vicarious punishment

Answer 7

Someone observes models behaviour being punished so less likely to imitate behaviour

Question 8

Meditational processes

Answer 8

Mental processes that determine whether or not we imitate models behaviour
- attention
- retention
- reproduction
- motivation

Question 9

Outline banduras bobo doll study

Answer 9

• lab study
• 3-6 yr olds
• 72 pps even girl and boys
• Stanford uni

Question 10

Aim, iv and method of bobo doll study

Answer 10

Aim = whether children imitate adults who modelled aggressive behaviour
IV = level of aggression the adults modelled
1. Adults behaved aggressively towards bobo doll using pre determined standardised behaviours
2. Adult behaved non aggressive way
3. Control group - no adult/ model present

Question 11

Findings of bobo doll study

Answer 11

• children more likely to act aggressively if observe adult modelling aggressive behaviour
• boys more likely imitate behaviour if they observed model of same gender ( identify with them)

Question 12

What did Banduras second experiment test

Answer 12

Tested how vicarious reinforcement affects behaviour

Question 13

Banduras second experiment findings

Answer 13

Children more likely to imitate models aggressive behaviour if model received reward of sweets than if model received punishment

Question 14

Bandura strengths

Answer 14

+ reliable -> repeated diff versions of study multiple times + found similar results
+ High degree of control -> extraneous variables( toys, amount of time spent in rooms) controlled, high validity

Question 15

Bandura weaknesses

Answer 15

• Ethical issues-> lack of informed consent from pps + psychological distress for childeren (observing aggressive behaviour
• lack of ecological validity ( may not generalise to real life)

Question 16

SLT strengths

Answer 16

+ holistic model of learning than behaviourist approach -> accounts for role in Mediational processes in learning
+ real world applications of identification

Question 17

SLT weaknesses

Answer 17

Bandura
- ethical issues
- lack ecological validity -> can’t generalise to rl
- lack internal validity = EV not controlled -> matched pairs design, can’t match for every possible pps variable so some may not be controlled
- can’t use scientific methods to study Mediational processes -> aren’t directly observable, cannot make reliable predictions about observational learning