Social Learning Theory Flashcards
Define Social Learning Theory (SLT)
Learning through observation of others.
Who created the theory?
Albert Bandura (1986)
Define Modelling
A form of learning where individuals learn a particular behaviour by observing another individual performing that behaviour.
Define Imitation
The action of using someone or something as a model and copying their behaviour.
Define Identification
The extent to which an individual relates to a person and feels that they are similar.
Define Vicarious Reinforcement
Learning that is not a result of direct reinforcement of behaviour, but through observing someone else being reinforced for that behaviour.
A child is more likely to imitate a behaviour if they….
….identify with the model.
Child who observed another being rewarded for a behaviour are…
….more likely to imitate their behaviour.
Define Meditational Processes
The internal mental processes that exist between environmental stimuli and the response made by an individual to those stimuli.
Bandura PROCEDURES
1st condition = toddlers watched an adult hit a Bobo Doll with no reprimands.
2nd condition = toddlers watched an adult hit Bobo Doll who was later told off.
3rd condition = toddlers watched an adult hit Bobo Doll who was later rewarded (verbal praise).
Bandura Results
Children in both 1st condition and 3rd condition imitated the violent behaviour displayed by the adult.
Children in 2nd condition did not imitate the violent behaviour.
Strengths of SLT
- useful applications in schools and prisons
- Fox and Bailenson (2009) found people who viewed a virtual model exercising engaged in physical activity within the following 24 hours.
- Andsager et al (2006) found that perceived similarity to a model in an anti alcohol advert was positively related to the massages effectiveness
Weaknesses of SLT
- behaviour could be down to biology rather than learning
- too simple, out rules cognitive and biological influences on behaviour
