Social Learning Theory approach

Question 1

What is modelling/imitation/identification?

Answer 1

• modelling is when an individual (known as a model/role model) demonstrates behaviour by which can be learned by others because they have observed it - can be a live model (parent,teacher) or a symbolic model (celebrity in the media, character on TV)
• imitation is when someone who observed the behaviour of a model copies it: the consequences of the behaviour (vicarious reinforcement), whether you can identify with the individual etc, determine whether you imitate them

Question 2

What was Bandura’s study in regards to the social learning theory?

Answer 2

• children observed aggressive behaviour from adult role models towards BoBo dolls
• tested to see whether they imitated the behaviour towards the BoBo dolls
• Findings: children imitated behaviour, didn’t if no observed aggression
• In regards to different conditions:
- identification: imitation more likely in children who saw same sex adults display behaviour
- vicarious reinforcement: if models rewarded for behaviour, children more likely to copy

Question 3

Evaluation of the social learning theory approach

Answer 3

(+) Akers - supports the idea that the social learning theory has a lot of real word applications e.g criminal behaviour increased if exposed to others who commit crimes
(-) doesn’t consider how biology may influence behaviour e.g boys in Bandura’s study may have been aggressive due to testosterone
(-) Bandura’s study was a lab experiment which means real life may be different because real life is more complex and has a lot of different influences on behaviour, hard to tell if this is modelling or not