Social Learning Theory (booklet 3) Flashcards
Social learning theory
Behaviour is learnt from the environment through observational learning- observing others and imitating their behaviour
We are more likely to model their behaviour if we see them being rewarded for it (vicarious reinforcement) and less likely if they are punished for it
Also more likely to imitate behaviour of someone we consider to be a role model as we identify with them- identification is the desire to be associated with a person or group due to their desirable traits
Imitating a role model=modelling
Role models
Someone who we look up to, admire and identify with
Can be live (teachers, parents, friends) or symbolic (media)
More likely to have a role model of a similar age, gender, ethnicity etc and of higher status and greater expertise
Mediational processes
Cognitive processes occurring after observation and before imitation- active thought processes that influence the individual and inform them whether to imitate the behaviour
Attention- noticing the behaviour
Retention- encoding the info into memory
Motivation- will to perform -> role model, vicarious reinforcement etc
Reproduction- ability to perform
observe > mediations processes > imitation
Bandura (1961)
In the 1960’s people believed observing aggression acted as a purge and was cathartic so decreased the likelihood of displaying aggressive behaviour
Bandura experimented on children age 3-5 who observed a violent or non violent model interacting with a bobo doll
Found those who observed the violent model showed more aggressive behaviour, particularly when model was same sex
Bandura argued this happened through observational learning as children imitated adults as they saw them as role models
Evaluate SLT- cognitive factors
Strength- considers cognitive factors
Neither classical or operant conditioning provide an adequate explanation of learning on their own as they don’t consider how humans store information and apply this to their own behaviour
Whereas SLT acknowledges how we process information through mediational processes such as whether we pay attention to the behavior and how we store it in memory
SLT is a more comprehensive explanation of
Evaluate SLT- less deterministic
Less deterministic than other learning theories as although it acknowledges influence of environmental factors such as observing others it doesn’t suggest we blindly imitate
Instead suggests mediational processes like attention and motivation play a role giving the individual free will
Strength as individual is accountable for their behaviour so concept of free will is consistent with principles of our moral and legal systems
Evaluate SLT- supporting research
Bandura’s bobo doll study
Children observed an aggressive or non aggressive model interacting with a bobo doll
Found children observing aggressive model imitated this behaviour showing we imitate behaviour of models as SLT suggests particularly those of same sex
Evaluate SLT - causal relationship
Difficult to establish causal relationship between observation of behaviour and reproduction
Often a large gap
Other factors that may influence behaviour during this time eg biological factors such as hormones during puberty
Difficult to conclude observation of behaviour leads to reproduction of it reducing scientific credibility of approach
Reduces our confidence in it as an explanation of human behaviour
