Social Learning theory - approach

Question 1

what are the assumptions of SLT

Answer 1

1. Behaviour is learnt from the environment
2. Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them
3. Behaviour is learnt directly (through consequences to ourselves) and indirectly (from seeing someone else recieve consequences)

Question 2

What are the key features of social learning theory

Answer 2

• Vicarious reinforcement
• mediational processes
• modelling, identification and imitation

Question 3

define imitation

Answer 3

copying the behaviours of others.

Eg. yawning when someone else yawns

Question 4

Define identification

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Define modelling

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

define vicarious reinforcement

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Explain vicarious reinforcement as a key feature of SLT

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Explain mediational processes as a key feature of SLT

Answer 8

Bandura states that observational learning involves 4 processes.
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation

(ARRM)

Question 9

explain ARRM

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Give an example of ARRM

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

explain modelling, identification and imitation as key features of SLT

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is a model

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What characteristic must a model have for their behaviour to be replicated

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

what research is there for social learning theory

Answer 14

Bandura’s Bobo doll 1961

Question 15

What was the aim of Bandura 1961

Answer 15

controlled experiment to investigate if social behaviours (e.g. aggression) can be acquired by observation and imitation

Question 16

What was the sample of Bandura 1961

Answer 16

72 children aged 3-6 years old
from Stanford uni nursing school

Question 17

How was Bandura’s sample divided

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

What was the method of Bandura 1961

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

How was agression aroused in Bandura 1961

Answer 19

where each child was separately taken to a room with toys, they weren’t allowed to play with then the toys were taken away.

Question 20

What were the results of Bandura 1961

Answer 20

• 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.

Question 21

What is the conclusion of Bandura 1961

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

give 3 evaluation points for Bandura 1961

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

State Bandura’s research as one line

Answer 23

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

Question 24

List 3 strengths of Social learning theory

Answer 24

• offers a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of the mediation processes
• uses scientific methods
• practical applications

Question 25

Explain how ‘offers a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of the mediation processes’ is a strength of SLT

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Explain how ‘using scientific methods’ is a strength of SLT

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Explain how having practical applications is a strength of SLT

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

List 3 weaknesses of SLT

Answer 28

• over-reliance on evidence from lab studies
• fails to explain spontaneous behaviour
• ignores biology

Question 29

Explain how ‘over-reliance on evidence from lab studies’ is a weakness of SLT

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Explain how ‘failing to ignore spontaneous behaviour’ is a weakness of SLT

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Explain how ‘ignoring biology’ is a weakness of SLT

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Using the assumption that ‘Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them’ outline the structure used in an essay

There are two

Answer 32

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)

Question 33

Using the assumption that ‘Behaviour is learnt from observing a model and imitating them’ outline the structure used in an essay

Answer 33

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)