Social Learning Theory

Question 1

SLT assumptions

Answer 1

• People learn via a process of observing and imitating others within a social context
• Behaviour is learned from experience
• Mediational processes are essential for learning to take place

Question 2

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 2

= Increased likelihood of behaviour being repeated due to observing someone else being reinforced for it

Question 3

Role of mediational processes in learning

Answer 3

= cognitive factors that influence learning, coming between stimulus and response;
1. attention (extent to which we notice certain behaviours)
2. retention (how well behaviour is remembered)
3. reproduction (ability to perform observed behaviour)
4. motivation (the will to perform behaviour, determined by consequence for behaviour)

Question 4

Role of identification in learning

Answer 4

=desire to be associated with person/group due them possessing similar characteristics and/ordesirable characteristics to observer = leading to imitation and modeling

Question 5

Bandura’s research

Answer 5

Bandura et al. (1961)
- 2 groups
A = watched adult behave aggressively towards Bobo Doll
B = watched adult behave non-aggressively towards Bobo Doll
- Both groups placed in room of toys
A = seen to behave much more aggressively towards Bobo and other toys compared to B

Bandura and Walters (1963)
- 3 groups
A = showed video of adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo Doll & praised for it
B = showed video of adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo Doll & punished for it
C = showed video of adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo Doll, no consequence
- Given bobo doll to play with
A, then C = showed most aggression towards it

Question 6

Pros of SLT

Answer 6

IRL APP
Bandura study display importance of role models, impact of witnessed behaviour, help understand range of behaviours
e.g., gender standards
= increase value

COGNITIVE FACTORS
Recognise importance of cognitive factors in learning, unlike Behaviourist
Behaviourist = inadequate on own
= more comprehensive theory of human learning due to recognising mediational processes and human pps

Question 7

Cons of SLT

Answer 7

Lab studies
= demand characteristics
= unrepresentative children sample
= provides little insight into IRL learning of aggression in children in children