Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What does social learning theory suggest?
It suggests that the way children behave is an interaction between personal and environmental factors.
What is Bandura’s social learning theory based on?
The belief that learning happens through observing, imitating, and modelling the behaviours of others.
What are the four principles of social learning according to Bandura?
- Attention: Learning takes place when a child focuses their attention on a person who models the behaviour.
- Retention: The child retains what they have observed in their memory to use when an opportunity occurs.
- Reproduction: The child reproduces or imitates what they have learned.
- Motivation: The child is motivated by rewards or the anticipation of rewards (vicarious reinforcement).
What is reinforcement?
Behaviour may be repeated or resisted. It can be positive or negative.
What is positive reinforcement?
The behaviour is repeated because of personal satisfaction (intrinsic reinforcement) or rewards (extrinsic reinforcement).
What is negative reinforcement?
The behaviour is not repeated to avoid an adverse experience, such as dissatisfaction or being told off.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Children are motivated because they see someone else being rewarded for their behaviour.
What was the Bobo doll experiment?
• Children were shown adults being aggressive or non-aggressive towards a Bobo doll.
• The aggressive adults were either rewarded, reprimanded, or faced no consequence for their behaviour.
What did Bandura aim to show through the Bobo doll experiment?
• Children would copy the aggressive behaviour of another person.
• The outcome for the adult impacted the likelihood of children copying the behaviour.
What was the result of the Bobo doll experiment?
• Children learned aggressive behaviour through observation.
• Children were more likely to imitate an adult who was rewarded for aggressive behaviour than one who was reprimanded.
