Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Outline the main assumptions of Social Learning Theory.

Answer 1

• SLT is an expansion of behaviourism
• developed by Bandura in the 1960’s
• behaviour is learnt from observing others and the reinforcement and punishment they recieve
• not strictly a behaviourist approach because it considers cognitive processes

Question 2

Define imitation

Answer 2

copying the behaviour of others

Question 3

Define identification

Answer 3

when an observer associates themselves with a role and wants to be like the role model

Question 4

Define modelling

Answer 4

observers pov - imitating the behaviour of a role model
role models pov - precise demonstration of a behaviour

Question 5

Define vicarious reinforcement

Answer 5

reinforcement which isn’t directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour

Question 6

What is ARRM?

Answer 6

a mediational process to explain social learning theory

Question 7

What does ARRM stand for?

Answer 7

Attention - the extent to which we notice a behaviour
Retention - how well a behaviour is remembered
Reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished

Question 8

Outline Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment.

Answer 8

• 36 boys and 36 girls aged between 3-6
• participants put into room one at a time and observed the role model for 10 mins
• participants then taken to seperate room and allowed to play with the toys however they wanted
• found that children who had observed agressive behaviour acted more agressively when observed and that boys were more agressive than girls.

Question 9

Outline the strengths of Social Learning Theory.

Answer 9

• takes thought processes into account and acknowledges the role they play in deciding whether a behaviour will be imitated or not
• can successfully explain the initiation of certain behaviours
• led to censorship

Question 10

Outline the limitations of Social Learning Theory.

Answer 10

• not a full explanation of behaviour
• most research carried out in labs which has been criticised due to their artificial environments
• sees behaviour as environmentally determined but some may be inate
• doesn’t explain cognitive processes