social learning theory

Question 1

who proposed this

Answer 1

bandura (1972)

Question 2

what is slt

Answer 2

says people learn through observing, imitating, and modeling others’ behavior. This theory posits that we can acquire new behaviors and knowledge by watching others, a process known as vicarious learning.
It is more likely that a child will imitate the behavior of role models with whom they identify e.g. same-sex parent or sibling

Question 3

what is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 3

if an important role model receives a reward or punishment we take note of that

Question 4

modelling meaning

Answer 4

learning beh through other people- we observe and copy

Question 5

enactive reproduction meaning

Answer 5

first time you display a behavior independently

Question 6

self efficacy

Answer 6

a persons belief in their ability to complete a task or achieve a goal

Question 7

outcome expectancy

Answer 7

anticipated consequences (positive or negative) as a result of engaging in behavior

Question 8

direct reinforcement

Answer 8

when a person performs a certain behavior and is rewarded in a way that increases the likelihood of them repeating that behavior

Question 9

internalization (diff to social)

Answer 9

remembering and storing observed behavior (retention)

Question 10

identification (diff to social)

Answer 10

observer identifies with a role model due to similar charateristics

Question 11

what was the research provided before slt was introduced that reduced behaviorisms influence

Answer 11

personality could influence responses to conditioning, showing that cognitive factors could have an effect on learning

Question 12

who found this

Answer 12

rotter (1954)

Question 13

where is most slt research done

Answer 13

in labs which quantifiable behavior is observed

Question 14

what 3 things does slt emphasise the importance of

Answer 14

observing, modelling, imitating

Question 15

what are the 4 mediational processes

Answer 15

attention
retention
(motor) reproduction
motivation
(arrm)

Question 16

attention explained

Answer 16

needs to be clear and focused on the beh and its consewuences

Question 17

retention explained

Answer 17

internalising the actions as memories

Question 18

(motor) reproduction explained

Answer 18

the ability to perform the behavior our model has just demonstrated

Question 19

motivation explained

Answer 19

our environment then rewards or punishes us for our behavior (operant conditioning) which serves as motivation to continue or stop this behavior

Question 20

with what study did bandura believe these were happening in

Answer 20

bobo doll study

Question 21

bobo doll participants (3 groups)

Answer 21

Aggressive model is shown to 24 children
Non-aggressive model is shown to 24 children
No model is shown (control condition) – 24 children

Question 22

bobo doll procedure

Answer 22

kids watched a film of adults performing aggressive acts onto the bobo doll alongside words such as ‘pow’ then kids allowed in room with doll for 20 mins with the doll and after they were allowed to go into the room w/ the bobo doll they were put into a room with toys which was like a frustration room

Question 23

how were the children observed

Answer 23

The child was in the room for 20 minutes, and their behavior was observed and rated though a one-way mirror. Observations were made at 5-second intervals, therefore, giving 240 response units for each child

Question 24

bandura 1963a experiment conditions

Answer 24

repeated it in the exact same way but there was a condition where they got praised and another where they got shouted at

Question 25

results of 1963a

Answer 25

children internalized the reinforcement leading to a difference in the reproduction % due to vicarious reinforcement

Question 26

bandura 1965 experiment differences

Answer 26

same procedure repeated
at the end with those who didnt reproduce beh in the ounishment condition they were told ‘if i dont tell anyone will you show me what the adult did’

Question 27

bandura 1965 findings

Answer 27

even though the children didn’t like what they saw, they internalized the actions, processed them and chose if they want to do it or not meaning even if you dot want to you will always learn

Question 28

advantages (2)

Answer 28

Experiments can be replicated. Standardized procedures and instructions were used, allowing for replicability which bandura has done himself strengthening his research every time and eliminate biases

The children did not know they were being watched as there was a one way mirror and they could not see the observers. This stopped demand characteristics. Also they were too young to understand the aim, again reducing demand characteristics. This increases the reliability of the study.

Question 29

disadvantages (2)

Answer 29

lacks mundane realism because it may not represent or measure how children would be
aggressive in day-to-day situations, perhaps towards objects or people that are not meant to be struck. Therefore, participants may have deliberately acted more
aggressively towards the doll in order to please the experimenter decreasing the reliability

Exposing children to aggressive behavior raises ethical questions. Deliberately encouraging aggressive behavior in young children, even in a controlled environment, can be seen as problematic and potentially harmful.

Question 30

how can you link slt to cognitive

Answer 30

observational learning cant happen unless cognitive processes were at work- these mental factors mediate the learning processes in the decide if a new response is needed (mediational processes)

Question 31

advantages of slt

Answer 31

Human cognitive and decision-making
processes may be considered as more complex than that of animals. SLT has the
advantage, over behaviorism, that it recognizes the role of mediational processes as
the conscious and cognitive insight that humans have into their behavior. Therefore,
SLT may be a better explanation of human behavior, compared to behaviorism.

real life application: parents in particular should take note of this finding - the main idea is that children observe and learn from their parents, even their parents’ morals, and children tend to copy what parents do instead of what they say.
Besides parents, many public figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, are viewed as prosocial models who are able to inspire global social change.

Question 32

disadvantages of slt (2)

Answer 32

Using lab-based research to investigate behavior learned in social contexts lacks ecological validity as it uses artificial tasks in unnatural settings reducing the applicability of findings

SLT does not account for innate and biological factors such as the influence of genes, hormones, brain structures on behavior which limits it ignoring nature (nature v nurture)