Social Learning Theory (SLT) Flashcards
What does SLT focus on?
Learning through observation and imitation.
What is SLT also known as?
The learning approach, a development of the behaviourist approach.
What is identification?
Internalising & adopting behaviours shown by a role model.
What is a role model?
One whose behaviour can be imitated by an observer.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Indirect reinforcement through observation of consequences for a model’s behaviour.
What is imitation?
Learning through copying a role model’s behaviour.
What is mental representation?
The mental imagery of things that are not actually present to the senses.
What are the 3 main assumptions of SLT?
-Behaviour is learned through experience.
-Learning occurs through observation & imitation of role models.
-Learning can occur indirectly.
When is imitation likely to occur?
-If one identifies with a role model.
-If a model is positively reinforced for a behaviour.
What is an example of imitation?
Children imitating their parents’ behaviours and attitudes at first.
How can one identify with a model?
Similarities.
What are examples of things to identify with a model?
-Same age.
-Same gender.
-Older sibling.
-High profile media following.
What is an example of research support for SLT?
Bandura (1961): Bobo Doll experiment.
What was the aim of Bandura (1961)?
To investigate children’s behaviour when observing a role model.
How many participants were there in Bandura’s case study?
72 children (36M, 36F):
-24 Aggressive Role Model
-Male Model (6M, 6F)
-Female Model (6M, 6F)
-24 Non-Aggressive Role Model
-Male Model (6M, 6F)
-Female Model (6M, 6F)
-24 Control Group
What were the results of Bandura (1961)?
-Children that observed aggressive model acted more aggressively than the group that observed the non-aggressive model (or the control group).
-Boys imitated more aggressively than girls.
-Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls.
What are evaluation points for Bandura’s case study?
-Ignores hormonal differences (e.g. boys having more testosterone).
-Reliable & replicable (due to strict control over variables).
-Lack of ecological validity: the model and the child are strangers, unlike ‘real life’ modeling (takes place within the family).
What is the mediational process?
What lies between stimulus and response.
What is the acronym for the mediational process?
ARRM.
What are the four parts of the meditational process?
Attention.
Retention.
Reproduction.
Motivation.
What is attention (to the role model)?
Paying attention to the model’s behaviour.
What is retention (of the observed behaviour)?
Forming a mental representation of the model’s behaviour.
What is reproduction (of the target behaviour)?
Transforming mental representation to physical action. This involves mentally appraising one’s ability to do so.
What is motivation (to imitate the observed behaviour)?
A reason or urge to imitate the behaviour.
What are strengths of SLT?
-More rounded explanation of complex behaviours than behaviourist approach (e.g. aggression, eating disorders, smoking).
-Research support (e.g. Bandura’s Bobo Doll).
What are weaknesses of SLT?
-Ignores biological factors (e.g. testosterone levels).
-Deterministic: takes accountability away from one’s actions.
