Social Learning Theory AO3

Question 1

Strength-cognitive factors

Answer 1

-recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning
-vicarious reinforcement shows that people make judgements about when it’s appropriate to repeat the behaviour of others
-process that the behaviourist approach does not account for as classical and operant conditioning state we learn by association/consequences
-SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning

Question 2

Counterpoint

Answer 2

-SLT has still been critiqued for ignoring factors that can contribute to human behaviour
-biological factors like hormones and brain chemistry can influence the way we think and behave
-research has shown that mirror neurons in our brains cause us to empathise and imitate other people
-this suggests that the influence of biological factors on social learning were under-emphasised in SLT

Question 3

Limitation

Answer 3

-evidence it is based on was gathered through lab studies
-includes Bandura’s bobo doll experiment as this took place under controlled conditions
-due to this, participants could have shown demand characteristics
-means that their behaviour may not have been genuine so the results may not actually tell us much

Question 4

Strength

Answer 4

-applied to a wide range of real-world situations
-can help explain cultural differences in behaviour e.g. how people learn from others around them including those on social media
-has proven to be useful in understanding a range of behaviours
-increases the value of the approach as it can account for real-world behaviour