Social learning theory Flashcards
What is social learning theory?
People learn behaviours by observing other people, particularly those who they look up to
What are the key stages of social learning?
- modelling
- observation
- imitation
- vicarious reinforcement (seeing someone else receive rewards for their behaviour can motivate people to behave a certain way)
What is attention?
The learner pays attention to the important parts of the behaviour being observed
What is retention?
The important details of the observed behaviour are stored in the learners memory
What is reproduction?
Once the modelled behaviour is in memory it will be reproduced
What is motivation?
likelihood of a person repeating the behaviour will depend on the reinforcements which will follow the behaviour
Bandura 1961 : Aim
To investigate if children will imitate verbal and physical aggression from an adult role model.
Bandura 1961 : Sample
- 72 children ( 36 boys, 36 girls)
- mean age 4 years 4 months
- Standford university nursery
- matched on pre existing aggressiveness rated on 5 point scale
Bandura 1961 : Procedure
- 24 children watched a male/ female model playing with tinker for 1 minute before behaving aggressively towards bobo doll.
- 24 children were exposed to non aggressive model who played quietly for 10 minutes
- 24 were used as control group and not exposed to any model
- aggression arousal ( children taken to room with attractive toys and told other children deserve them more)
- test for delayed aggression (exposed to aggressive and non aggressive toys . Children were in room for 20 minutes and observed through one way mirror. Observations made at 5 second intervals.
Bandura 1961 : Results
- Boys reproduced more physical aggression, verbal aggression and gun play more than girls when exposed to male model
Bandura 1961 : Conclusions
Support social learning theory as suggest children learn behaviours such as aggression through observation learning.
Bandura 1963 : Aim
To investigate if observing aggression in films will result in different levels of imitation than observing live models
Bandura 1963 : Sample
- 96 children (48 boys, 48 girls)
- Standford university nursery
- Aged 3-6 years
Bandura 1963 : Procedure
-Three experimental groups : real life aggression, film aggresion,cartoon aggression
- mild aggression arousal
behaviours observed in one way mirror every 5 seconds for 20 minutes
Bandura 1963 : Results
- Children were most likely to imitate a cartoon character ( 99) whereas the real life aggression was 83
Bandura 1965 : Aim
Investigate the impact of vicarious reinforcement on children’s imitation pf aggression
Bandura 1965 : Sample
- 66 children (33 girls, 33 boys)
- aged between 3.5- 6 years
- Standford university nursery
Bandura 1965 : Procedure
- Model rewards with soft drink or model punished (hit with newspaper)
- Children watched Tv show for 5 minutes of model behaving badly towards a bobo doll and giving 4 distinctive aggressive responses ( sitting on the doll, hitting the doll, kicking the doll and throwing rubber balls at the doll)
- Children taken into room left to play with bobo doll, observed through one way mirror for 10 minutes
Bandura 1965 : Results
- Significantly higher number of imitative responses were recorded when model was exposed to model rewarded
Bandura 1965 : Conclusion
- Many variables affect behaviours including observed consequences
Becker 2002 : Aim
Assess impact of novel and prolonged exposure to television on eating behaviour and attictiudes
Becker 2002 : Sample
- 128 adolescent girls (63 in 1995 and 65 in 1998)
- mean age 17
- native Fijians and fluent English speakers
- Written informed consent
Becker 2002 : Procedure
- Quantitative data collected by participants completing EAT26 questionnaire about eating habits, score of 20 or above was considered high
- Additional interview questions about use of television
- Qualitative data included narratives about feelings since introduction of tv
- In 1998, asked additional questions eg ‘ do you ever think you look too big or too fat?’
Becker 2002 : Results
- 1995 reported self induced vomiting to control weight 0% 1998 11.3%
- 1995 felt too big or too fat (no data) 1998 74%
Becker 2002 : Conclusions
Links changes to increase in tv watching and subsequent identification with media models
