Social Learning Theory

Question 1

The development of the social learning theory

Answer 1

Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory as a development of the behaviourist approach

Question 2

Assumptions of the approach

Answer 2

Agrees with behaviourist in that much behaviour is learned through experience
It is concerned with human rather than animal behaviour
Learning occurs through the observation and imitation of role models
Learning can occur directly through classical condition and operant conditioning but can also occur indirectly.

Question 3

Models

Answer 3

There are two types of models:

• Live model – these are people who are present in our environment (teachers/parents/siblings, etc).
• Symbolic models – these are people who are present in the media (e.g. celebrities)

Question 4

Imitation

Answer 4

Much of what a child learns is acquired through imitation of the behaviors and attitudes modelled by
their parents.
Whole patterns of behaviour can be rapidly acquired.

Question 5

Identification

Answer 5

Anyone can model behaviour. It can be family members, peers, sports personalities character from TV. At the same time not everyone is a role model, there needs to be something about the role model that the person imitating the behaviour identifies with.

Question 6

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 6

When you learn about the consequences of behaviors from others
Our tendency to repeat or duplicate behaviors for which offers are being rewarded and we adjust our own behaviour accordingly.

Question 7

Mediational processes-long ARRM

Answer 7

For modelling to occur, there must be:

• Attention (noticing the behaviour)
• Retention (remembering the behaviour)
• Reproduction (it has to be physically possible) n
• Motivation (there has to be a reason to want to copy the role-model)