Cognition: Observational/Social Learning

Question 1

Observational Learning

Answer 1

When learning occurs as a result of attending to a model (example) and noting the consequences of their behaviours. It results in either imitation or avoidance of a behaviour.

Question 2

Modelling

Answer 2

Observational learning in which a person learns to reproduce behaviour exhibited by a model

Question 3

Bandura’s Model of Reciprocal Determinism

Answer 3

A person’s behaviour both influences and is influenced by personal factors and the social environment

Question 4

Albert Bandura (1977)

Answer 4

Agreed with classical and operant conditioning, but added that behaviour is learnt from the environment using mental processes called meditational processes, which cannot be studied.

Question 5

ARRM Model (Conditions for Observational Learning)

Answer 5

Participants must:

1. Pay ATTENTION to the model’s behaviour
2. RETAIN the behaviour in their long term memory
3. Have the ability to REPRODUCE the observed behaviour
4. Be MOTIVATED to perform the behaviour

Question 6

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1961): Aim and Sample

Answer 6

Aim: controlled experiment to determine if social behaviours can be acquired through observation and imitation

Sample: 72 (36 m, 36 f) 3-6 year olds

Question 7

Bobo Doll: Stage 1 - Modelling

Answer 7

• 24 children watched an adult male or female model behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll (using hammer, yelling)
• 24 were exposed to a non-aggressive model
• 24 were used as a control group and not exposed to any model

Question 8

Bobo Doll: Stage 2 - Aggression Arousal

Answer 8

• All children were subjected to ‘mild aggression arousal’
• Each child was separately taken to a room with attractive toys
• When child started to plat the experimenter told them they were their best toys and were reserved for other children

Question 9

Bobo Doll: Stage 3 - Test for Delayed Imitation

Answer 9

• Next room contained aggressive (mallet, peg board, dart guns, bobo doll) and non-aggressive toys (tea set, crayons, bears, plastic farm animals)
• Child was in room for 20 mins, and their behaviour was observed and rated through a one way mirror
• Observations were made at 5 second intervals

Question 10

Bobo Doll: Results

Answer 10

• Children who observed the aggressive model made more imitative aggressive responses than those in the other groups
• Girls showed more physical aggression if the model was a male and more verbal aggression if it was female, the exception being how often they punched the Bobo, which was reversed
• Boys were more likely to imitate same sex models, and imitated more physical aggression

Question 11

Bandura’s Adapted Experiment (1965)

Answer 11

• Tested vicarious reinforcement
• Children were shown the models being given consequences
• Three consequences: rewarded for aggressive behaviour, punished, or no specific consequence

Question 12

Adapted Experiment Results

Answer 12

• Children in reward and control imitated more aggressive actions than the children in punishment condition
• Children in model punished group learned the aggression, but did not imitate it because they expected negative consequences

Question 13

Conclusions of Experiment

Answer 13

Children are able to learn social behaviour such as aggression through the process of observational learning, watching the behaviour of another person

Question 14

Advantages of Experimental Method

Answer 14

• Establish cause and effect due to all other variables other than IV being controlled
• Allows for precise control of variables (gender of model, time children observed model, behaviour of model)
• Can be replicated due to use of standardised procedures and instructions

Question 15

Limitations of Experimental Method

Answer 15

• Low ecological validity: situation was different to normal modelling (strangers, no interaction)
• Unethical, as there could have been long term consequences
• Cumberbatch (1990) found children who had played with a Bobo doll before were 5 times more likely to act aggressively due to the novelty of the toy
• Cannot discover if single exposure has long-term effects

Question 16

Limitations of Observational Learning

Answer 16

• Requires motivation to perform a behaviour

- poor role models can demonstrate bad behaviour