Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is the primary focus of social learning explanations to gender?

Answer 1

Learning all gender-related behavior from the environment and experiences

This perspective emphasizes the role of external influences in shaping gender behavior.

Question 2

Define ‘observation’ in the context of gender learning.

Answer 2

Simply watching gender-related behavior

Observation does not require any special relationship with the individual being observed.

Question 3

What does ‘imitation’ refer to in gender learning?

Answer 3

Copying gender-related behavior

This process is fundamental to how individuals learn gender roles.

Question 4

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 4

Learning through consequence

This concept is crucial in understanding how behaviors are reinforced or punished.

Question 5

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 5

Getting praised for a certain gender behavior

This encourages the repetition of the behavior.

Question 6

What does punishment entail in the context of gender behavior?

Answer 6

Getting punished for a certain gender behavior

This discourages the repetition of the behavior.

Question 7

What is indirect reinforcement (vicarious)?

Answer 7

Learning through observing the reinforcement of others’ behaviors

This includes both positive and negative reinforcement based on others’ experiences.

Question 8

Fill in the blank: You watch someone be rewarded, and you repeat this behavior as you want the _______.

Answer 8

reward

This illustrates the concept of vicarious reinforcement.

Question 9

What happens when you watch someone else be punished?

Answer 9

You don’t repeat the behavior as you don’t want to be punished

This highlights the role of observational learning in avoiding negative outcomes.

Question 10

Define ‘identification’ in social learning.

Answer 10

A special relationship between yourself and the role model where you see yourself as similar

This connection strengthens the likelihood of adopting the role model’s behaviors.

Question 11

What is ‘modelling’ in the context of gender learning?

Answer 11

Imitating gender-related behavior of someone you look up to

This behavior is more likely if the model has status or is considered desirable.

Question 12

What are the mediational processes in social learning theory?

Answer 12

Attention: Watch gender related behaviour
Retention: You remember and analyse the skills
Motivation: Praise/punishment
Reproduction: The action being done

Question 13

What did Bandura’s first experiment demonstrate?

Answer 13

Children watch a same sex adult model hit a ‘Bobo doll’. Children were then allowed to play in the playroom. Children imitated the adults. This demonstrates we imitate gender related behaviour from same sex role models.

Backs up observation and imitation

Question 14

What were the conditions in Bandura’s second experiment?

Answer 14

Condition 1: Adults were praised for displaying aggressive behaviours (children copied behaviour).
Condition 2: Adults were punished for displaying aggressive behaviours (children did not copy behaviour).
Condition 3: There was no consequence (control group).

Backs up reinforcement and the key concept of operant conditioning

Question 15

What does the social learning theory explain about gender differences?

Answer 15

This theory explains same gender differences around the world, through different media and learning experiences. The biological approach cannot explain this, highlighting how this approach may be a better alternate explanation.

Question 16

How does the social learning theory account for stereotypical gender behaviour?

Answer 16

This explanation can also explain males’ fixed and stereotypical gender related behaviour through direct and indirect reinforcement. The cognitive approach cannot explain this, therefore the social learning theory may be a better explanation to gender.

Question 17

What is a limitation of the social learning theory?

Answer 17

This theory ignores any biological influence on gender related behaviour such as testosterone, which is linked to aggression. However, the Bruce/Brenda case demonstrates that nature can override nurture - SLT does not account for this.