Social Learning Theory AO1 Flashcards
Assumptions
-all behaviour is learned from experience
-also learn by imitating those we observe, judging whether we want to experience the same consequences to those actions
-learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly
Vicarious reinforcement
reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
e.g. seeing a child get rewarded for putting their toys away might make their younger sibling want to do the same thing
Bandura’s mediational process
attention- extent that we notice certain behaviours
retention- how well behaviour is remembered
motor reproduction- ability of observer to perform the behaviour
motivation- the will to perform the behaviour, often determined by whether the behaviour will be rewarded or punished
Identification
-more likely to imitate people they identify with
-person they identify with is referred to as the role model
-imitating a role model is called modelling
-person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics
Bobo doll study
aim-demonstrate that aggression can be learned through modelling
Bobo study-procedure
procedure-72 children aged between 3 and 6 put into three groups, equal number of b and g. 1/2 saw male 1/2 saw female
aggressive model played in a room while an adult hit and shouted at a “Bobo doll”
- non-aggressive model played in a room while an adult played quietly with a construction set
-control did not see a model
Bobo study-findings
-children who saw the aggressive model produced more aggressive acts than those in either other group
-boys imitated same sex models more than girls
-girls imitated more physical aggression if they saw male models, more verbal aggression if they saw female models
Bobo study- conclusion
Aggression can be learned through modelling
