social learning theory Flashcards
what is the social learning theory?
a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combing learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
what is direct and indirect learning?
•aggression can be learned directly through operant conditioning, involving positive /negative reinforcement and punishment.
•this makes it more likely that a child observing will repeat the aggressive behaviour in a similar situation, if they are rewarded.
•bandura argued that an indirect mechanism- observational learning- accounts for social learning of most aggressive behaviours
what is observational learning and vicarious reinforcement?
•people acquire specific aggressive behaviours through observing aggressive models (like siblings, peers, parents, influences)
•as well as observing the behaviour of models, children also observe the consequences of the behaviour
•if the aggressive behaviour is rewarded (or not punished) then the child will be more likely to reciprocate the behaviour
•this is known as vicarious reinforcement
•there is another form known as vicarious punishment, in which a behaviour is less likely to be repeated
who identified the cognitive conditions for learning?
Bandura
what are the cognitive conditions for learning?
•attention (the observer must pay attention to the models aggressive actions)
•retention (the observer needs to remember the behaviour)
•reproduction (the observer must be able to physically carry out the behaviour)
•motivation (the observer needs a reason to imitate the behaviour)
what is self-efficacy?
•self efficacy is the extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal
•if a child learns that their aggressive behaviour has been effective in the past, then they will continue to repeat it
•the child’s sense of self-efficacy develops with each successful outcome
•they learn that aggression works and that they are good at it
what was Bandura’s Bobo doll study?
•children observed adults behaving aggressively (kicking, hitting) a Bobo doll, or behaving non-aggressively
•the children were them made frustrated by being told they could not play with some attractive toys
•many children imitated the behaviour that the model displayed on the Bobo doll
strength: research support
•Poulin and Brown found that aggressive boys tended to be friends with other aggressive boys as they mutually reinforces eachothers behaviour through modelling- frequently being exposed to aggressive behaviour and positive consequences
•SLT processes made aggression more likely
research support contradiction
However, the study does not find a similarity between friends for reactive aggression (hot-blooded) as eachothers outbursts were usually observed but not imitated. the SLT provides a weak explanation of reactive aggression.
strength: real- world application
•one way to reduce aggression is to reward non-aggressive models. the SLT can increase our understanding of how kids can develop aggressive tendencies and how to foster non-aggressive children from childhood. it provides practical steps to reduce aggressive behaviour in children.
limitation: biological influences
•the SLT underestimates the influence of biological factors. Bandura accepted that aggression was a biological mechanism for survival yet said it was primarily learned and the outcome of ‘nurture’
•however, there are neurotransmitters and hormones which play a significant role in aggression, with the SLT does not acknowledge or explain
•therefore suggesting it is an incomplete explanation of aggression
limitation: research methods
•many studies carried out in lab/ controlled conditions
•controlling variables helps establish cause and effect
•may not be able to generalise to aggressive behaviour in real-life scenarios
