Social learning theory Flashcards
What theory did Bandura develop in the 1960s
Social Learning Theory
What does SLT agree with
People can learn by conditioning but also claims they learn a lot from role models
What processes are involved between stimulus and response in SLT
Mediational cognitive processes
What must people focus on for SLT to work
People must focus their attention on the role model perceive what they do and remember it
What is modelling
Observing and imitating another person
What is identification in SLT
Where certain attractive qualities and characteristics are picked up on
What happens when you identify with a model
You can copy and learn from their behaviour
What is the importance of the model being significant
The model will often be someone who is significant to the observer
What is reinforcement in SLT
Positive or negative reinforcement makes the behaviour more likely to happen again
What is vicarious reinforcement
Seeing others being rewarded for a behaviour influences someone in whether they choose to imitate the behaviour
What is attention in SLT
You have to pay attention to learn a behaviour
Why is retention important in SLT
You need to pay attention at the time and remember what you observed
What is reproduction in SLT
Judging whether you have the ability to reproduce the behaviour
What happens if you do not think you can reproduce the behaviour
You are far more likely not to do it
What is motivation in SLT
You evaluate the direct or indirect results of imitating the behaviour
When are you more likely to imitate a behaviour
If the behaviour results in a good reward
What type of theory is SLT
Reductionist
What does SLT ignore
Any biological explanations
What did Bandura study
Bandura studied imitation of aggressive models
How many participants were in Bandura’s study
36 girls and 36 boys
What was the mean age of the participants in Bandura’s study
Mean age of 52 months
What was the design of Bandura’s study
Matched participants design
What were the three conditions in Bandura’s study
Aggressive models non-aggressive models and control
What did children in the first condition observe
Aggressive adult models playing with a Bobo doll
What did children in the second condition observe
Non-aggressive models playing with other toys and ignoring the Bobo doll
What was the third condition in Bandura’s study
Control condition with no exposure to models
What did children exposed to aggressive models imitate
A lot of aggressive behaviour
What did children in the control condition show
More aggressive behaviour than in the non-aggressive condition
What was the conclusion of Bandura’s study
Aggressive behaviour is learnt through imitation of others behaving aggressively
Why was Bandura’s study reliable
There was strict control of the variables
Why might Bandura’s study lack ecological validity
Children were not in a natural situation
Why is generalisation difficult in Bandura’s study
A limited sample was studied
What ethical issue arises in Bandura’s study
The study encouraged aggression in children
Why is reinforcement not needed for learning in SLT
We can learn just by observing
What happens if you see a model punished for an action
You are unlikely to copy it
Why is Bandura’s study not just a test of aggression
It was also a test of obedience
What is the relevance of SLT to the nature-nurture debate
The cause of behaviour can be a mix of nature and nurture
Why can it be difficult to conclude that observational learning has taken place
The behaviour can be repeated a long time after they were observedWhat is required for effective learning in SLT
What are the four cognitive processes in SLT
Attention retention reproduction and motivation
What must happen after you notice a role model
You must give your full attention and attend to their behaviour
What is the ability to reproduce the behaviour called
Reproduction
What does evaluating the result of imitating a behaviour affect
It affects your motivation to imitate
Why might SLT be considered reductionist
It explains things through basic cause-and-effect mechanisms
What are mediational processes in SLT
Processes that occur between stimulus and response
What did Bandura’s study provide evidence for
Social Learning Theory
What did Bandura’s study encourage
Encouraged aggression in children
Why might the results of Bandura’s study lack ecological validity
Children were not in a natural situation
What is a Bobo doll
An inflatable figure with a weight in the bottom
What is identification in SLT
Picking up attractive qualities and characteristics from a model
What increases the likelihood of imitating a behaviour
Seeing others being rewarded for it
What does reinforcement involve in SLT
Positive or negative consequences that make behaviour more likely to happen
Who developed Social Learning Theory
Bandura
What type of design did Bandura’s study use
Matched participants design
What kind of toys were used in the non-aggressive condition
Toys like tea sets crayons and dolls
What tools were used to display aggression in the aggressive condition
A Bobo doll and a mallet
What happens in vicarious reinforcement
Seeing someone else being rewarded influences behaviour
How does retention work in SLT
You need to remember what you observed to reproduce it later
What was one criticism of Bandura’s study
It may be difficult to generalise results as the children were all from the same school
Why might Bandura’s study raise ethical issues
It encouraged aggression in children
What cognitive process involves judging whether you have the ability to perform a behaviour
Reproduction
What does SLT suggest about behaviour learning
Behaviour is learnt through observation and imitationWhat does Bandura’s study show about aggression
What did children in the non-aggressive condition show
They played calmly and showed barely any aggression
What does Bandura’s study suggest about behaviour
Behaviour is learnt through imitation of others behaving aggressively
What toys were in the control condition
A Bobo doll tea set crayons and other toys
How were the children grouped in Bandura’s study
They were matched based on ratings of aggressive behaviour
Why might Bandura’s study lack generalisability
It studied a limited sample of children from the same school
What was the main conclusion of Bandura’s study
Aggressive behaviour can be learned through imitation
What are the three conditions in Bandura’s study
Aggressive models non-aggressive models and control
What is the role of the model in SLT
To demonstrate behaviours that may be imitated
How can reinforcement influence behaviour in SLT
It can make behaviour more likely to happen again
What is an example of vicarious reinforcement in SLT
Seeing others being rewarded for a behaviour
What does SLT emphasise about learning
Learning happens through observation and imitation
What do mediational processes refer to
Cognitive processes between stimulus and response
What is the first cognitive process in SLT
Attention
What is required to learn from a role model in SLT
Paying attention and focusing on their behaviour
What must you do after paying attention to a behaviour
Retain and remember the observed behaviour
How can identification with a model affect learning
You are more likely to imitate someone you identify with
Why is SLT considered a reductionist theory
It explains behaviour through cause-and-effect mechanisms
What do cognitive processes in SLT mediate
They mediate the relationship between stimulus and response
What happens if a behaviour results in a good reward
You are more likely to imitate it
