The Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Who was a key researcher in the Social Learning Theory

Answer 1

Bandura

Question 2

How did Bandura believe that people could learn

Answer 2

Through the observing other’s behaviour, including seeing the consequences of other’s behaviour. On the basis of this feedback they would develop theories about the behaviour most likely to succeed in a given situation

Question 3

What is modelling

Answer 3

In order for social learning to take place someone must carry out the attitude or behaviour to be learned. This is modelling and the people who perform the action are called models

Question 4

What are the different types of models

Answer 4

Live model - Someone real, could be a teacher, parent or peer member
Symbolic Model - Someone portrayed in media, like a character in TV

Question 5

What is imitation

Answer 5

Models behaviour which has been observed and can later be reproduced

Question 6

Who is a key model for learning attitudes and behaviours

Answer 6

Parents, with research showing that entire patters of behaviour can be learned fast through imitation

Question 7

What are the key determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated

Answer 7

-The characteristics of the model
-The percieved ability to perform these behaviours
- Observed consequences of the behaviour

Question 8

How do the characteristics of the model determine imitation

Answer 8

Imitation is more likely if the individual identifies with the model. To identify with the model the person must percieve that they are similar enough that they are likely to experience the same consequences from the behaviour. Shutts et al found children particularly identify with same sex models

Question 9

Who did Shutts et al suggest children are more likely to identify with

Answer 9

Models who are similar, particularly same sex models

Question 10

Who found children particularly identify with same sex models

Answer 10

Shutts et al

Question 11

How does the percieved ability to replicate behaviour influence imitation

Answer 11

Imitation will only occur is the individual perceives that they are able to replicate observed behaviours. Importantly this view doesn’t necessarily have to grounded in reality, as people can believe they are capable of far more than they actually are

Question 12

What is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 12

Observing the consequences of a behaviour, and assessing whether to imitate based on the likelyhood of experiencing these outcomes themselves

Question 13

What research supports the existance of vicarious reinforcement

Answer 13

Bandura and Walters noticed children who observed a model being rewarded for aggressive behaviour were much more likely to imitate than children observing a model punished for the same behaviour

Question 14

Who found evidence of vicarious reinforcement

Answer 14

Bandura and Walters

Question 15

What key study did Bandura carry out into social learning

Answer 15

The Bobo Doll Experiment

Question 16

What were the two conditions of the Bobo Doll Experiment

Answer 16

Half of the children observed non-aggressive models interacting with a Bobo Doll, while the other half observed an aggressive model displaying distinctive physical aggressive acts like hitting the doll with a mallet

Question 17

What did the children in the Bobo Doll Experiment do after observing the models

Answer 17

They were fustrated by being shown attractive toys which they were not allowed to play with, and taken to a room with lots of toys including a Bobo Doll

Question 18

What were the findings of Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment

Answer 18

Found children who observed the aggressive model reproduced a good deal of physical and verbally aggressive behaviour, while those exposed to the non agressive model exibited virtually none. Around 1/3 of aggressive exposed children repeated the models verbal responses

Question 19

What did Bandura find in a Bobo Doll follow up study

Answer 19

Children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive acts were more likely to show a high level of aggression

Question 20

What is the mediational process

Answer 20

Where an individual weighs up the probable consequences of behaviours and when it is appropriate to display the behaviour

Question 21

How has the social learning theory helped increase our understanding of criminal behaviour (eval)

Answer 21

Akers suggested that the probability of engaging in criminal behaviour increases when exposed to criminal models, identify with them and expect rewards from imitating their behaviour.

Question 22

What research supports the SLT’s role on criminal behaviour

Answer 22

Ulrich supported the importance of the social learning theory in his review of literature, finding that the strongest cause of violent behaviour in adolescence was association with delinquent peer groups, where violence was both modelled and rewarded

Question 23

Who suggested the probability of criminal behaviour went up when exposed to criminal models

Answer 23

Akers

Question 24

Who supported Akers view on the role of social learning in criminal behaviour

Answer 24

Ulrich

Question 25

Why is identification important in influencing behaviour (eval)

Answer 25

Media attempts to change unhealthy behaviours found models similar to target audienc are more likely to bring about identification (phsical, attitude, behaviour). Andsager et al found that percieved similarity to a model in anti-alcohol advertising positively correlated with the message’s effectiveness

Question 26

Who found that percieved similarity to an anti-advertising model affected effectiveness

Answer 26

Andsager

Question 27

What research found that identification could increase exercise using VR (eval)

Answer 27

Fox and Bailenson found evidence for identification using computer generated virtual humans engaging in exercise or loitering. These models either lookes similar to the participant or dissimilar. Those who same the exercising model were more likely to exercise in the 24 hours following the experiment, and they concluded increased identification was the reason

Question 28

Who used VR participants to make them get off their fat ass and exercise

Answer 28

Fox and Bailenson

Question 29

Why is causation an issue for the SLT (eval)

Answer 29

It suggests that having deviant peers will result in individuals adopting the same values and behaviours but Siegel and McCormick suggest that young people who possess deviant attitudes and values would seek out peers with similar attitudes and behaviours, as they are more fun to be with. This means it could be possession of deviant attitudes rather than deviant peers

Question 30

Who suggested deviants simply seek out deviants

Answer 30

Siegel and McCormick