Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of social learning theory?
- Agree with behaviourists that behaviour is learnt through conditioning
- However, we also learn through observation and imitation of role models
- Learning occurs in directly through watching others (vicarious reinforcement)
- Mediational processes
What factors make identification more likely to occur?
Hint: FLAGS
Friendly
Likeable
Age
Gender
Status
What is meant by vicarious reinforcement?
- Indirect reinforcement- we learn through observing other people being reinforced
- An individual who observes a model being rewarded for a certain behaviour is likely to imitate the behaviour because they want to recieve the same rewards.
- If the individual observes a behaviour being punished, it makes them less likely to imitate that behaviour.
How does Bandura’s bobo doll study support vicarious reinforcement?
The children learnt from watching the consequences of the adult’s aggressive behaviour- if they were rewarded, the behaviour was repeated, if the adult was punished, low level of aggression shown.
What are the four mediational processes?
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES: what is meant by attention?
The observer must be paying attention and observing the model- must notice and pay attention to the behaviour being modelled.
MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES: what is meant by retention?
The observer must remember the behaviour they have seen. Sometimes we can notice behaviour but not remember it.
MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES: what is meant by reproduction?
The observer must be physically capable of repeating the behaviour they have watched.
MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES: what is meant by motivation?
The rewards and punishments that follow behaviour will be considered by the observer. If the possible rewards are greater than the costs, behaviour more likely to be imitated.
AO3- strength or weakness?
DREAMS- deterministic?
- Strength- soft determinism
- Less deterministic than behaviourist and biological approach- suggests that when a person observes behaviour, they have cognitive mental processes which allow the person to choose whether they want to imitate the behaviour.
- Example: if a child observes a role-model acting aggressively, they are more likely to repeat it if they are motivated to do so.
- STRENGTH because it acknowledges some element of free will which is a more positive and realistic view on behaviour.
AO3- strength or weakness?
DREAMS- reductionist?
- STRENGTH
- SLT is less reductionist than other approaches such as behaviourist and biological
- It suggests that whilst behaviour is caused by observation and imitation, it acknowledges that there is some choice over how someone behaves. For example someone is unlikely to repeat a behaviour if they are not motivated to do so.
- STRENGTH because the approach acknowledges that we do have some element of free will unlike other approaches.
AO3- strength or weakness?
DREAMS- supporting evidence?
- STRENGTH
- Supporting evidence comes from Bandura’s bobo doll study- children were more likely to repeat aggressive behaviours if they saw an adult role model doing so and being rewarded for it.
- STRENGTH BECAUSE adds validity and credibility to the approach.
AO3- strength or weakness?
DREAMS- applications of the research?
- Strength
- Can be used to explain how children develop aggressive behaviour
- This means that parents can use SLT to ensure their children are not exposed to aggressive behaviour through the media and ensure pro-social behaviour is being modelled at home.
- STRENGTH BECAUSE it can be used in the real world to promote pro-social behaviour
AO3- strength or weakness?
DREAMS- what methods does the approach use? Is it scientific?
- strength
- The approach uses scientific lab studies e.g., Bandura’s bobo doll study- children watched the same adult role model, had the same toys to play with in each condition
- STRENGTH BECAUSE- high internal validity, establish cause and effect, gives psychology more credibility as a science.
