Social learning theory

Question 1

Who made Social learning theory ?

Answer 1

• Albert Bandura

Question 2

Assumptions of SLT

Answer 2

• Agreed with behavourists
• He said that people learn thorugh observation and imitation
• vicarous reinforcement
• modelling
• mediational processes

Question 3

What is vicarous reinforcement ?

Answer 3

• When you imitate behaviour based on someone elses reinforced behaviour .

Question 4

Who do we imitate ?
(indentifiaction)

Answer 4

• someone with similiar chacteristics
• attractive
• high status
• charasmatic
• ## children- parents (same sex)

Question 5

What are the four mediational processes ?

Answer 5

• Attention - to what extent was the behaviour noticed
  -Retention- how well the behaviour was remembered
• Motor reproduction- how able is the observer to reproduce behaviour
• Motivation- The will to carry out behaviour observed - usually determined by whether it was punished or not
• EMPHASISES PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE

Question 6

What is the Bobo doll study ?

Answer 6

• Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (Bandura, Ross and Ross, 1961) - 36 boys and 36 girls,aged between 3 and 6 years old, were tested. There were three experimental groups, 3 with the first being exposed to real-life aggressive models, a second group observing the same models displaying aggressive acts on film and a third group viewing anaggressive cartoon character. The researchers found that the children who’d observedan aggressive role model behaved more aggressively themselves towards the Bobo

Question 7

Evaluation of SLT
(strength)
rec of cog

Answer 7

• The recognition of cognitive factors of learning
• neither classical or operant conditioning can be an adequate explanation
• humans and animals also rely on the behaviours of others
• dangerous if we only relied on ourselves
• ## SLT provides a more comprehensive account of human learning

Question 8

bio

Evaluation of SLT
(limitation)

Answer 8

• Ignore biological factors
• Bandura claimed learning itslef was due to environmental factors
• However, recent research suggests observational learning is due to mirroe neurons that allow us to mirror and sympathise with other people
• suggests biological factors are under empahsised

Question 9

Evaluation of SLT
(limitation)

Answer 9

• young children behaviour in a contrived lab meaning it was was artificial
• may tell us very little about adults and they could of just been reacting to a bobo doll and think that was the purpose

Question 10

Evaluation of SLT
(strength)

Answer 10

• Real-world application
  Another strength is that SLT principles have been applied to a range of real-world behaviours.
• Social learning theory has the advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour. SLT principles, such as modelling, imitation and reinforcement, can account for how children learn from others around them, including the media, and this can explain holy cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies. This has proved useful in understanding 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-worldbehaviour.