Approaches - SLT Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are Social Learning Theorists?
Albert Bandura and others argued that learning is a cognitive process that occurs in a social context. It involves observing others and the consequences of their actions, which can lead to vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment.
What is Modelling?
The process of observing and imitating others. Models may be live (parents, peers) or symbolic (characters in media).
What is Identification in Social Learning Theory?
We are more likely to imitate models who are similar to us (e.g., same age/gender) or perceived as attractive or of high status.
What are Mediational Processes?
Cognitive processes between stimulus and response, including:
• Attention – focusing on the model’s behavior
• Retention – remembering the behavior
• Reproduction – ability to perform the behavior
• Motivation – willingness to perform based on expected outcomes
What is the difference between Learning and Performance in Social Learning Theory?
Social Learning Theory separates learning from performance. Learned behaviors may be internalised and only appear later, unlike behaviorist views that equate learning with immediate performance.
What was the procedure of Bandura’s (1961) Bobo Doll Study?
Children (aged 3–6) watched either an aggressive adult or a non-aggressive adult.
What were the findings of Bandura’s (1961) Bobo Doll Study?
Children exposed to aggression were more likely to imitate aggressive acts. Boys showed more imitation when the model was male (identification).
What did Bandura (1963) find regarding Symbolic Models?
Children imitated aggression from live, recorded, and cartoon models equally, suggesting symbolic models are effective in promoting imitation.
What did Bandura (1965) demonstrate about Vicarious Reinforcement?
Children who saw a model punished for aggression imitated the behavior less, demonstrating the impact of observed consequences on learning.
What is a strength of Social Learning Theory related to Scientific Evidence?
The Bobo doll study had high internal validity due to controlled procedures and matched pairs design (e.g. pre-assessed aggression).
What is a limitation of Social Learning Theory regarding Ecological Validity?
Lab setting may not reflect real-world behavior (e.g. children watching TV at home). Aggression observed may be short-term and not long-lasting.
What is a limitation of Social Learning Theory regarding Inference?
Key processes (e.g., identification, vicarious reinforcement) are not directly observable, and are inferred from behavior, which may lead to incorrect conclusions.
What is a strength of Social Learning Theory regarding its reductionism?
SLT considers internal mental states (like attention/motivation), unlike behaviorism’s stimulus-response model. It gives a more valid explanation for complex behaviours like aggression.
What is Reciprocal Determinism?
Bandura’s concept that behavior influences the environment and is influenced by it. Example: a child works hard, gets praised, and is then motivated to keep working hard.
What are Social Learning Theorists?
Albert Bandura and others argued that learning is a cognitive process that occurs in a social context. It involves observing others and the consequences of their actions, which can lead to vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment.
What is Modelling?
The process of observing and imitating others. Models may be live (parents, peers) or symbolic (characters in media).
What is Identification in Social Learning Theory?
We are more likely to imitate models who are similar to us (e.g., same age/gender) or perceived as attractive or of high status.
What are Mediational Processes?
Cognitive processes between stimulus and response, including:
• Attention – focusing on the model’s behavior
• Retention – remembering the behavior
• Reproduction – ability to perform the behavior
• Motivation – willingness to perform based on expected outcomes
What is the difference between Learning and Performance in Social Learning Theory?
Social Learning Theory separates learning from performance. Learned behaviors may be internalised and only appear later, unlike behaviorist views that equate learning with immediate performance.
What was the procedure of Bandura’s (1961) Bobo Doll Study?
Children (aged 3–6) watched either an aggressive adult or a non-aggressive adult.
What were the findings of Bandura’s (1961) Bobo Doll Study?
Children exposed to aggression were more likely to imitate aggressive acts. Boys showed more imitation when the model was male (identification).
What did Bandura (1963) find regarding Symbolic Models?
Children imitated aggression from live, recorded, and cartoon models equally, suggesting symbolic models are effective in promoting imitation.
What did Bandura (1965) demonstrate about Vicarious Reinforcement?
Children who saw a model punished for aggression imitated the behavior less, demonstrating the impact of observed consequences on learning.
What is a strength of Social Learning Theory related to Scientific Evidence?
The Bobo doll study had high internal validity due to controlled procedures and matched pairs design (e.g. pre-assessed aggression).
