social learning theory Flashcards
who proposed this
bandura (1972)
what is slt
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
what is vicarious reinforcement
if an important role model receives a reward or punishment we take note of that
modelling meaning
learning beh through other people- we observe and copy
enactive reproduction meaning
first time you display a behavior independently
self efficacy
a persons belief in their ability to complete a task or achieve a goal
outcome expectancy
anticipated consequences (positive or negative) as a result of engaging in behavior
direct reinforcement
when a person performs a certain behavior and is rewarded in a way that increases the likelihood of them repeating that behavior
internalization (diff to social)
remembering and storing observed behavior (retention)
identification (diff to social)
observer identifies with a role model due to similar charateristics
what was the research provided before slt was introduced that reduced behaviorisms influence
personality could influence responses to conditioning, showing that cognitive factors could have an effect on learning
who found this
rotter (1954)
where is most slt research done
in labs which quantifiable behavior is observed
what 3 things does slt emphasise the importance of
observing, modelling, imitating
what are the 4 mediational processes
attention
retention
(motor) reproduction
motivation
(arrm)
attention explained
needs to be clear and focused on the beh and its consewuences
retention explained
internalising the actions as memories
(motor) reproduction explained
the ability to perform the behavior our model has just demonstrated
motivation explained
our environment then rewards or punishes us for our behavior (operant conditioning) which serves as motivation to continue or stop this behavior
with what study did bandura believe these were happening in
bobo doll study
bobo doll participants (3 groups)
Aggressive model is shown to 24 children
Non-aggressive model is shown to 24 children
No model is shown (control condition) – 24 children
bobo doll procedure
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
how were the children observed
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
bandura 1963a experiment conditions
repeated it in the exact same way but there was a condition where they got praised and another where they got shouted at
results of 1963a
children internalized the reinforcement leading to a difference in the reproduction % due to vicarious reinforcement
bandura 1965 experiment differences
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’
bandura 1965 findings
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
advantages (2)
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.
disadvantages (2)
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.
how can you link slt to cognitive
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)
advantages of slt
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.
disadvantages of slt (2)
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)
