3) Social Learning Theory

Question 1

What is the theory of SLT

Answer 1

Learning which occurs indirectly through observation and imitation

Question 2

When are children more likely to replicate behaviour

Answer 2

When they see the behaviour get rewarded, this is referred to as positive reinforcement

Question 3

What process plays a crucial role in learning

Answer 3

Mediational processes

Question 4

What are the mediational processes

Answer 4

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Motor reproduction
4. Motivation

Question 5

What is it called when you can relate to a role model

Answer 5

Identification, important as you are more likely to imitate a role model they identify with

Question 6

Who did research on SLT

Answer 6

Bandura et al
Bandura and Walters

Question 7

What research did Bandura carry out

Answer 7

Bobo doll
- children watched aggressive adult
- non aggressive adult

Question 8

What were Banduras findings

Answer 8

• The children that had observed an aggressive adult more more likely to behave aggressively toward the bobo doll compared to the non-aggressive condition

Question 9

What research did Bandura and Walter carry out

Answer 9

Same as Bandura however, children watched behaviour get :
- rewarded, punished or neither

Question 10

What were Banduras and Walters findings

Answer 10

• Those they had observed the behaviour get rewarded were much more likely to repeat the behaviour

Question 11

Limitation - lab studies

Answer 11

• Relies too heavily on lab contrived studies, which exposes the disposition of demand characteristics, especially as children would recognise being in a different setting and therefore acting how they felts as though were expected to act
• This means that findings tell us little on aggression of children in day to day lives

Question 12

Strength -real world application

Answer 12

• Accounts for how children learn and imitate those around them
• Shows the impact of media, and how children will act based on what they are exposed to
• this gives SLT an increased value as it holds actual application

Question 13

Strength - emphasises cog factors

Answer 13

• Emphasises the importance of cognitive factors
• Neither classical or operant conditioning can explain cognitive factors to the complex levels which humans function within
• SLT highlights many cognitive factors involved with learning
• Suggest SLT is a fuller explanation for how we learn