Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is imitation

Answer 1

Copying the behaviours of others

Question 2

What is identification

Answer 2

Seeing yourself like someone else and wanting to copy them e.g age, gender

Question 3

What is modelling

Answer 3

Imitating a role model or a role model demonstrating

Question 4

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 4

Observing others being reinforced or punished and imitating the behaviour to achieve the same result

Question 5

What are the meditational processes

Answer 5

Attention - pay attention to the roll model

Retention- remember the behaviour being observed

Motor reproduction - have the ability to reproduce observed behaviour

Motivation- have the desire to reproduce observed behaviour

Question 6

An example study of the social learning theory

Answer 6

Bandura (1961) bobo doll study - adults are violent to a doll and then children imitate their aggression

Question 7

Evaluation: strength

Answer 7

Further evidence in support: Phillips (1986) found that daily homicide rates in the US raised in the week following and important boxing match

Question 8

Evaluation: strength

Answer 8

Can explain cultural differences in aggression: different rates of aggression can be explained by different role models in society & individual members reinforcement of aggression

Question 9

Evaluation: weakness

Answer 9

Bandura’s study was a lab experiment therefore lacks ecological validity

Question 10

Evaluation: weakness

Answer 10

Reductionist: it reduces behaviour down to the role of social learning and doesn’t consider the role that testosterone plays in influencing aggression (overlooks biological factors)