Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is the Social Learning Theory?

Answer 1

Bandura proposed that people learn through observation & imitation and argued with the behaviourist approach that mental processes are important in mediating between a stimulus & response

Question 2

Assumptions

Answer 2

1. Behaviour is learnt from the environment not genes
2. Behaviour is learnt from observing others & the reinforcement/punishment they receive

Question 3

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 3

indirect learning when an individual imitates behaviour if they see another individual being rewarded & avoid that behaviour if they’re being punished

Question 4

What are mediational processes?

Answer 4

cognitive factors (like thinking) that influence learning & mediate between stimulus and a response

Question 5

What are the 4 mediational processes?

Answer 5

attention, retention, reproduction & motivation

Question 6

What is attention?

Answer 6

the extent to which we notice certain behaviours

Question 7

What is retention?

Answer 7

how well behaviour is remembered

Question 8

What is reproduction?

Answer 8

the ability of observer to perform behaviour

Question 9

What is motivation?

Answer 9

the will of observer to perform behaviour - often determined whether behaviour is rewarded or punished

Question 10

What is modelling?

Answer 10

when people (normally children) imitate the behaviour of those they classify as role models who they possessive similar characteristics to

Question 11

Evaluation: Importance of cognitive factors in learning

Answer 11

• humans & some animals store info about behaviour of others to make judgements when they need to perform certain actions
• Bandura said “From observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed
• SLT provides comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes

Question 11

Evaluation: Over-reliance on evidence from lab studies

Answer 11

• many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation under lab settings
• lab settings often criticised since participants may respond to demand characteristics
• e.g. in Bobo doll experiment the purpose of the doll is so hit it so the participants did what was expected of them - not from observing the model
• research tells us little of how children actually learn aggression in everyday life

Question 12

Evaluation: Underestimates influence of biological factors

Answer 12

• Bandura doesn’t really refer to biological factors in social learning
• in Bobo doll experiment the boys were overall more aggressive than girls - this may be due to hormonal factors since boys have higher levels of testosterone which is linked to aggressive behaviour
• biological influence not account for in SLT

Question 13

Evaluation: Explains cultural differences in behaviour

Answer 13

• advantage of SLT is that it explains cultural differences in behaviour
• SLT explains how children learn from others but also the media which explains cultural norms transmitted through certain societies
• this has proved to being useful in understanding the range of behaviours portrayed

Question 14

Evaluation: Less deterministic than other approaches

Answer 14

• Bandura emphasised that we’re influenced by external environment but also have an influence on it through the behaviours we choose to perform
• element of choice suggests there is free will in how we behave