Sociocultural Approach: Social Cognitive (Learning) Theory

Question 1

What is Social Cognitive (Learning) Theory?

Answer 1

• assumes that humans learn behavior through observational learning - people can learn by watching models and imitating their behavior
• sometimes the model is trying to have a direct effect on the learner (ie. when a teacher instructs children how to solve a problem)
• but often models serve as indirect models, in that they are not trying to influence behavior

Question 2

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 2

• unlike some learning that we do, we do not need positive reinforcement (reward) to continue the behavior
• the fact that the model was rewarded or punished for behavior, is enough for us

Question 3

What cognitive factors are involved in SCT?

Answer 3

• attention
• retention
• motor reproduction
• motivation

Question 4

What factors influence whether or not the observer decides to imitate and learn?

Answer 4

• consistency of model’s behavior (ie. always being brave)
• identification with the model (ie. similar age or gender)
• incentives (rewards/punishments)

Question 5

Bandura et al (1961) can be used for…

Answer 5

SCT, ethics, and research methods

Question 6

Bandura et al (1961) - aim

Answer 6

• to see if children would imitate aggression modeled by an adult
• they also wanted to know if children were more likely to imitate same-sex models

Question 7

Bandura et al (1961) - procedure

Answer 7

• young children were shown a video of an adult behaving aggressively to a Bobo doll
• participants were allocated to 3 conditions:
  1. control: no reward or punishment is shown
  2. model-rewarded: after the aggression, a second adult rewarded the model with sweets and a soft drink
  3. model-punished: after the aggression, a second adult scolded and spanked the model
• after the video, children were taken for 10 mins into a playroom with the doll and observed

Question 8

Bandura et al (1961) - findings and conclusion

Answer 8

• control and model-rewarded showed equal aggressiveness
• model-punished showed less aggressiveness
• but when children were asked to reproduce the video aggressor’s behavior (and informed that they would be rewarded) they all showed higher levels of aggression
• boys imitated physical aggression more while girls imitated verbal aggression more
• shows that aggression can be learned from models
• gender of model has some significance

Question 9

Odden and Rochat (2004) can be used for…

Answer 9

• SCT and enculturation