Bandura's Learning Theory Flashcards
When did Bandura et al conduct their study?
1963.
What dos Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) suggest?
That behaviour is learned through the observation of models.
What influences whether the model’s behaviour is imitated?
The observed consequences; if the behaviour is positively reinforced (rewarding) then imitation becomes more likely than if the behaviour is negatively reinforced (punishment).
What kind of study did Bandura et al carry out?
A laboratory study.
What did Bandura do in his study?
He showed children an adult model behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll; the model was either positively or negatively reinforced.
What was the control group of Bandura’s study?
A group of children who saw the model behave aggressively but witnessed no consequences.
What did Bandura do after the children watched the adult model?
The children were then allowed to play in a room that contained a bobo doll.
What did Bandura observe in the children?
Bandura found that the children who observed aggressive behaviour acted more aggressively towards the bobo doll, which was also found for behaviour that was positively reinforced.
Children who saw the model be punished for their behaviour were less likely to imitate the behaviour.
Bandura also found that boys generally acted more aggressive than girls.
What did Bandura conclude?
That criminal behaviour is no different to any other behaviour, therefore if we observe an individual being reinforced for criminal behaviour, we are more likely to imitate it.
What real-life case example supports the social learning theory?
Jon Venables and Robert Thompson:
Jon was exposed to violent videos from his father after his parents split, which were very similar to how he killed James Bulger.
Robert experiences violent abuse from both parents; and his father abandoned the family (he saw no punishment for the behaviour).
What are the two evaluation points for Bandura’s theory?
+ Research support (1989).
- Does not explain why people immitate punished behaviour.
