approaches: social learning theory Flashcards
(10 cards)
outline the assumptions
Bandura agreed with the behaviorist approach that much of our behavior is learned from experiences.
However social learning theory proposed that people learn through:
* Observation
* Imitation
Within a social context.
Social learning theory agrees with behaviourists but suggest learning also occurs indirectly
explain modelling
The person you identify with is called a role model and the process of imitating a role model is called modelling
explain identification
People are much more likely to imitate the behaviour of people with whom they identity with, a process called identification
explain role models
A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status.
Role models may not necessarily be physically present in the environment > they may be present in the media
state the 4 mediational processes
- attention > we notice and focus on behaviours
- retention > how well behaviour is remembered
- motor reproduction > ability to perform the behaviour
- motivation > the will to perform behaviour (determined by whether behaviour is rewarded or punished)
explain vicaiour reinforcement
For indirect learning to take place an individual observes the behaviour of others
The learner may imitate this behaviour but, in general, imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished.
Thus the learner **observes the behaviour and the consequences of the behaviour **
AO3: research to support
There is research to support the SLT
Bandura showed 3 groups children a clip of an adult hitting a bobo doll aggressively. The adult either got rewarded for their behaviour, punished or received no consequences. They found children were more likely to imitate the adult when they were rewarded for hitting the doll aggressively.
STRENGTH as this supports the idea of vicarious reinforcement, we are more likely to imitate behaviour if we have seen it be rewarded. This study therefore increasing the validity of the theory
AO3: reductionist
One weakness of the social learning theory is that it is reductionist.
SLT underestimates the influence of biological factors. It ignores how genes, hormones and chromosome influence our behaviour Bandura’s research also found that the boys were more aggressive than the girls.
WEAKNESS as the boys and girls in the groups watched the same video, it can not explain why the boys acted more aggressive. This is a biological influence of the difference in testosterone which is ignored by the social learning theory. As a result, this theory is an incomplete explanation of human behaviour.
AO3: importance of cognitive factors
One strength of this approach is that it acknowledges the importance of cognitive factors in learning.
Humans and many animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions.
STRENGTH because the approach acknowledges that we use other peoples behaviours to shape our own and that we think before we act. We have cognitive process that help us decide what to do next. It therefore acknowledges humans have an element of free will, that we aren’t solely determined by our environment. Which is an example of soft determinism
AO3: explains cultural differences
One strength of SLT is that it can explain gender differences
Mead found that gender roles were not consistent across cultures. This was evident in her research on gender roles on the various tribes in Papua New Guinea. She decided to choose these isolated tribes as they would not have been influenced by western gender roles seen in the media. She came across one tribe called the Tchambuli tribe were she found the gender roles were the opposite of those traditionally seen in western cultures. Males were more ‘decorative’, involved in domestic work while females were dominant, organised the village and gathered food
STRENGTH as this suggests that gender roles are learnt from the environment. We are likely to observe and imitate gender appropriate behaviour from our role models within our environment
