Social learning theory Flashcards
Social learning theory (SLT)
-Learning through observation of others and imitation.
-Watson and Skinner struggled to explain why learning sometimes took place without reinforcement, and why merely witnessing the behaviour of another individual was sometimes enough for a new behaviour to be learned.
-Bandura proposed social learning theory to explain how a behaviour can be learned by observing and then imitating others, a kind of learning that requires cognitive processing
Modelling
-One person (the model) demonstrates a behaviour
- In SLT, modelling takes place when one individual displays a particular social behaviour In the presence of someone else (the individual demonstrating the behaviour is the model) The modelling is not necessarily deliberate.
-Not all models are imitated - they are most likely to be imitated if they are the same sex and age as the observer. Also if they are likeable, conventionally attractive and appear to have a high social status.
-This is because the observer identifies with such model (admires and wants to be like them) so imitates their behaviour.
Observation and imitation
- Observation is an active process- the observer chooses to focus attention on the modelled behaviour and watch it.
-Imitation is copying the observed behaviour and is the most important mechanism of learning in SLT.
-Once behaviour has been observed and stored it can be reproduced whenever the situation is appropriate.
Vicarious reinforcement
-Reinforcement (direct) is any action after a behaviour that increases the probability of that behaviour being repeated.
-Vicarious reinforcement is experienced when an observer witnesses a model being rewarded for a behaviour. The observer experiences the reinforcement second-hand (vicariously), increasing the likelihood that the observer repeats the behaviour.
Stages of social learning
-Bandura suggested four cognitive processes that mediate whether observation of a model leads to imitation:
1) ATTENTION - to the behaviour of the model
2) RETENTION- of the observed behaviour (storage in memory), the main cognitive element of SLT.
3) REPRODUCTION- of the behaviour in an appropriate situation
4)- MOTIVATION- to repeat the behaviour because of vicarious reinforcement
For example, a child learns to punch others when angry through social learning theory: Child pays attention to a model demonstrating the angry behaviour (1, Attention) Remembers the angry behaviour (2, Retention) Reproduces the angry behaviour when a similar situation arises (3,Reproduction) Is motivated to repeat by seeing the model rewarded in some way for their angry behaviour (e.g. getting what they want from friends).
A strength of SLT is that it is supported by many animal and human studies.
-Banduras studies showed that children would imitate an aggressive model who demonstrated aggression towards an inflatable doll, especially if the model was the same sex and was rewarded.
-Nicol and Pope showed that chickens would selectively imitate high-status same-sex models in pecking a pad for food.
- This evidence supports banduras claims that behaviour can be acquires by observation and imitation and that the likelihood of imitation is affected by vicarious reinforcement and the characteristics of the model.
A weakness is there is research against SLT
- Kendler et al showed that identical twins are more similar in their levels of aggression than non-identical twins.
-This suggests that individual differences in behaviour (e.g. aggression) are genetically influenced and not simply a product of different modelling experiences.
- Therefore, SLT is not a complete explanation for the acquisition of behaviour- genetic factors are important as well as environmental influences.
Competing Argument
-Banura did not entirely ignore biological factors. He claimed that behaviours such as aggression are not solely determined by social learning - It is the way aggression (for example) is expressed that is learned , not the actual urge to be aggressive.
Application : SLT can help explain the effect of media violence on aggression.
- People believe that children may imitate aggressive behaviour modelled in violent television, films and video games (e.g. the murder of James Bolger was blames on one of the killers allegedly having watched Childs play 3).
- SLT provides an explanation for such beliefs and is useful because it helps us understand and predict when this might occur. For example, when the aggressor is attractive, has high status and is seen to be reinforced for their aggression.
-This application of SLT demonstrates the significant contribution of this theory to society’s understanding of how the media affects behaviour, in terms of what is modelled and the consequences of this modelling.
