Social Learning Theory Flashcards
Evaluation: What are the three strengths of SLT?
1) Cognitive factors:
Proves a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediation all processes.
2) Reciprocal determined:
There’s is some free will in the way the way that we behave which contrasts with the behaviourists approach which denies the possibility of free will.
3) Practical application
Can be applied to a range of real work behaviours e.g how children learn gender roles. This increases the value of the approach as it can account for real-world behaviour.
Evaluation: What are the two criticisms of the SLT?
1) Artificial lab studies
Participants may respond to demand characteristics - the purpose of Bobo Dolls is to strike it therefore children behaved how they thought was expected of them.
2) Biological influences under-emphasised
Bandura pointed out a different in how boys/girls respond to aggression but didn’t fully explore the link between sex and aggression + recent research suggests observational learning may be the result of mirror neurons in the brain which allows us to emphasise and imitate others.
