Social learning theory Flashcards
What is Social learning theory?
New patterns of behaviour can be learnt by observing the behaviour of others. People perform behaviours and observe different consequences such as punishment or reinforcement. Behaviour is learnt from the environment and also considers cognitive processes too
Who thought of the social learning theory?
Albert Bandura (1977)
What five points did Bandura devise about Social learning theory?
- Modelling
- Imitation
- Identification
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Meditational processes
Modelling (social learning theory)
Social learning requires a person to model or carry out the behaviour, so that the observer can learn the behaviour
imitation (social learning theory)
Children learn behaviours via imitation that are modelled by significant others and this is faster than classical or operant conditioning.
What are the three characteristics of successful imitation?
1) Characteristics of the model (age, gender)
2) Observers perceived ability to perform the behaviours shown
3) Observed consequences of behaviour
Identification (social learning theory)
How much the observer relates to the model and feels similar to them so they can experience the same outcomes as the model.
Vicarious reinforcement (social learning theory)
They observe the consequences of behaviours by observing a model, and if rewards are given to the model, then they are more likely to imitate the behaviour shown. They don’t need to experience rewards or punishment directly in order to learn new behaviours.
Meditational process (social learning theory)
The observer must form a mental representation of the behaviour being displayed by the model and the likely consequences of the behaviour in terms of expectancies
What are the four aspects of meditational processes?
Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation
Attention as a meditational process
The observer must pay attention and notice the behaviour of the model
Retention as a meditational process
The observer must remember the behaviour of the model
Motor reproduction as a meditational process
The observer must be able to perform the behaviour
Motivation as a meditational process
The observer must be willing to perform the behaviour in light of rewards
What are the advantages of Social learning theory?
+ helps to understand how criminal behaviour is learnt (Akers 1998)
+ More effective when the model is similar to the observer (Fox 2009)
+ More comprehensive view of human learning and uses behavioural and cognitive factors
Akers (1998)
Found that criminals seem to engage in more criminal behaviour when they are exposed to a model that they can highly identify with e.g. same gender/age range.
Fox (2009)
Found evidence to suggest that when an observer played a computer game that had a model that looked very similar to themselves, they were more likely to engage in the same behaviours as the model
What are the disadvantages of Social learning theory?
- Doesn’t take into account cause and effect
- Ignored other influences on behaviour such as biology or genetics
- Sees behaviour as determined by environment
Bobo doll experiment
Observational study with 36 males and 36 females between 37-69 months had to observe an aggressive/non aggressive f/m model interaction with a doll
What were the conditions of the bobo doll experiment?
the aggressive model displayed aggressive acts towards the bobo doll such as striking it with a mallet and shouting verbally aggressive words such as, “POW!”
What happened after the children observed the acts in the bobo doll experiment?
They were made to feel frustrated and shown attractive toys weren’t allowed to play with them. One by one they were taken to a room with some toys including a bobo doll (also a mallet, a dart gun and some non aggressive toys too). The children were observed for 20 minutes.
What were the results of the bobo doll experiment?
Children who observed the aggressive model reproduced the same behaviour to the doll, but children who observed the non aggressive model, showed no aggression to it.
33% repeated what they heard and 0% in the NA group were verbally aggressive
What happened in the follow up study of the Bobo doll experiment?
children observed a model being rewarded for aggressive behaviour, this increased the likelihood that the children would also be aggressive to the bobo doll.
Boys seem more aggressive, and imitation of aggression was greatest when the model was the same gender as the observer.
What are the advantages of the Bobo doll experiment?
+ It was conducted in a laboratory setting using observations, highly controlled and reliable
+ Provides good evidence to support social learning theory and useful real life applications
What are the disadvantages of the Bobo doll experiment?
- in lab conditions so might not be generalisable and might lack ecological validity and have demand characteristics
- use of a bobo doll in the experiment has been criticised and is meant to be played with aggressively
- only examines short term effects so we don’t know how influential social learning is
- ethical issues as they are being taught to behave aggressively
