Social Learning theory - approach Flashcards
what are the assumptions of SLT
- Behaviour is learnt from the environment
- Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them
- Behaviour is learnt directly (through consequences to ourselves) and indirectly (from seeing someone else recieve consequences)
What are the key features of social learning theory
- Vicarious reinforcement
- mediational processes
- modelling, identification and imitation
define imitation
copying the behaviours of others.
Eg. yawning when someone else yawns
Define identification
when as observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
Eg. seeing a celeb and wanting to be like them
– usually someone older that they identify with or want to be like.
Define modelling
- From the observer’s perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model.
- From the role model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.
e.g. watching someone put their tray away at lunch then doing the same
define vicarious reinforcement
reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour. This is a key factor in imitation.
e.g. your friend is told off for chewing gum in school so you don’t chew gum at school
Explain vicarious reinforcement as a key feature of SLT
A key feature of social learning theory is vicarious reinforcement which is simply learning by watching the consequences that befall to other, it plays an important role in how we interact with and behave towards others. It means that we can learn behaviour without direct reinforcement.
Explain mediational processes as a key feature of SLT
Bandura states that observational learning involves 4 processes.
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
(ARRM)
explain ARRM
Attention - observing a behaviour and noting that it is important
Retention - forming a memory of the observed behaviour and associating circumstances
Reproduction - replicating the behaviour
Motivation - rewards or punishments which follow the behaviour
Give an example of ARRM
Student sees another student finish lunch and put their tray on a rack at the dining hall. They remember that the student had finished their lunch so when the first student finishes their lunch, they reproduce the behaviour and get up and put their tray on the rack. Their motivation being that they can now leave the dining room as they have sorted out what to do with their tray.
explain modelling, identification and imitation as key features of SLT
These are the 3 steps that lead to a observable behaviour of one person being replicated by another as they learn a new behaviour in context
What is a model
Models are almost anyone who the observer imitates, although for children it is likely to be someone older than them.
Modelling cues are relevant aspects of the model’s behaviour which are memorised by the observer.
What characteristic must a model have for their behaviour to be replicated
- consistency (of the model’s behaviour)
- appropriateness of the model’s behaviour (particularly in relation to gender behaviour.)
- The model having power
- Similarity of the model to the observer
what research is there for social learning theory
Bandura’s Bobo doll 1961
What was the aim of Bandura 1961
controlled experiment to investigate if social behaviours (e.g. aggression) can be acquired by observation and imitation
What was the sample of Bandura 1961
72 children aged 3-6 years old
from Stanford uni nursing school
How was Bandura’s sample divided
Of the 72 children, 36 were boys and 36 were girls.
The 72 were split evenly into 3 groups of 24:
- the first group of 24 was a control group which had no model
- the second group of 24 had a non-agressive role model
- the third group of 24 had an agressive role model
The second and third groups were then further divided 6 girls and 6 boys were shown a female model and 6 girls and 6 boys were shown a male model (in each group)
What was the method of Bandura 1961
A lab experiment that consisted of 3 stages:
(1) modelling,
(2) aggression arousal where all the children were subjected to mild aggression arousal.
(3) A test for delayed imitation where the children were taken to a different room with some aggressive toys and some non-aggressive toys, they were left here for 20 minutes whilst being monitored through a one-way mirror their behaviour was rated and the observations happened at 5 second intervals giving 240 response units for each child.
How was agression aroused in Bandura 1961
where each child was separately taken to a room with toys, they weren’t allowed to play with then the toys were taken away.
What were the results of Bandura 1961
- Children who observed the aggressive model made far more imitative aggressive responses than the other groups.
- There was more partial and non-imitative aggression among those children who had observed aggressive behaviour, although the difference for non-imitative aggression was small.
- Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls. The evidence for girls imitating same-sex models is not strong.
- Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls. There was little difference in verbal aggression between boys and girls.
- The girls in the aggressive model condition also showed more physically aggressive responses if the model was male, but more verbally aggressive responses if the model was female. However, the exception to this general pattern was the observation of how often they punched Bobo, and in this case the effects of gender were reversed.
What is the conclusion of Bandura 1961
Bobo doll experiment demonstrated that children are able to learn social behaviour of another such as aggression through the process of observation learning, through watching the behaviour of another person. This study has important implications for the effects of media violence on children.
give 3 evaluation points for Bandura 1961
- Ethical - weakness - exposes children to violence – young children had not been previously exposed and may replicate the behaviour outside of the controlled environment - lack of protection from harm
- Methodological - strength - good sample size and variety
- Methodological - strength - controlled observation – high level of control over extraneous variables such as by using matched pairs
State Bandura’s research as one line
When viewing aggressive role models, children copied the model of the same gender as themselves, demonstrating the idea of models and that behaviour is learnt socially
List 3 strengths of Social learning theory
- offers a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of the mediation processes
- uses scientific methods
- practical applications
Explain how ‘offers a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of the mediation processes’ is a strength of SLT
A strength of the SLT Is that it offers a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of the mediation processes. This is a strength because neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own. This means that SLT is a more comprehensive way of explaining behaviour.
Explain how ‘using scientific methods’ is a strength of SLT
A strength of the SLT is that it uses scientific methods. This is because it is based on objective and empirical techniques such as Bandura’s Bobo Doll lab experiment. This is a strength because it results in having high control over extraneous variables (such as using the same model in each condition). This means that it could be argued that the use of scientific methods increases the overall internal validity of SLT, therefore raising Psychology’s scientific status.
Explain how having practical applications is a strength of SLT
A strength of SLT is that it has practical applications. This is because the principles of the theory, that behaviour is caused by observing and imitating a model, which has been used by the government to control how the media portray certain behaviours e.g. restricted the advertisement of cigarettes and alcohol in order to reduce this negative behaviour. This is a strength of SLT because is an important part of applied psychology, showing that as an explanation it has additional evidence as it helps to promote positive behaviours in the real world. This means that SLT is more likely to be an accurate explanation of behaviour.
List 3 weaknesses of SLT
- over-reliance on evidence from lab studies
- fails to explain spontaneous behaviour
- ignores biology
Explain how ‘over-reliance on evidence from lab studies’ is a weakness of SLT
A weakness of SLT is its over-reliance on evidence from lab studies this is a weakness because it can lead to demand characteristics. It has been suggested that in relation to the bobo doll research that because the main purpose of the doll is to strike it the children were behaving in a way that they thought was expected. This means that research support SLT may not tell us as much as initially assumed about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
Explain how ‘failing to ignore spontaneous behaviour’ is a weakness of SLT
Whilst Social learning theory believes that behaviour is learned through observing others and this idea has been supported by Bandura’s research and everyday anecdotal evidence, SLT fails to explain spontaneous behaviour. For SLT only behaviour that has been observed can be learned however not all behaviour has been observed bit can still be demonstrated. This is not explained by SLT; therefore, it provides and incomplete explanation of behaviour.
Explain how ‘ignoring biology’ is a weakness of SLT
An alternative explanation for human behaviour is the Biological explanation. This would suggest that human behaviour is due to genes or hormones rather than learning through observation. e.g. SLT underestimates the role of hormones in Bandura’s research as one consistent finding was that boys were often more aggressive than girls regardless of the situation they were in. This difference could be explained by hormones (levels of testosterone between girls and boys). Therefore the Social Learning Theory is not the only explanation of human behaviour that should be considered.
Using the assumption that ‘Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them’ outline the structure used in an essay
There are two
ASSUMPTION: Behaviour is learnt through observing others
KEY FEATURE: mediational processes
RESEARCH: Bandura’s Bobo doll – children copied the behaviour of the adult
STRENGTH (of assumption): lots of everyday examples of where people learn by watching others – more likely to be accurate.
WEAKNESS (of assumption): doesn’t account for spontaneous behaviour.
(Research should be evaluated as well)
ASSUMPTION: Behaviour is learnt by observing others
KEY FEATURE: modelling, identification and imitation
RESEARCH: Bandura’s Bobo doll – girls copied female role model; boys copied male role models
STRENGTH (of assumption): people are free to choose who their role model is – helps explain gender identity in single parent families.
WEAKNESS (of assumption): ignores biology
(Research should be evaluated as well)
Using the assumption that ‘Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them’ outline the structure used in an essay
ASSUMPTION: Behaviour is learnt directly (through consequences to ourselves) and indirectly (from seeing someone else recieve consequences)
KEY FEATURE: Vicarious reinforcement
RESEARCH: Bandura’s Bobo doll - the children watched the model before playing
STRENGTH (of assumption): . practical application
WEAKNESS (of assumption): over-relience on evidence from lab studies
(Research should be evaluated as well)
