INDIVIDUALISTIC THEORIES - ALBERT BANDURA, Social Learning theory

Question 1

what does banduras theory assume?

Answer 1

This is based on the assumption that offending is a set of
behaviours that are learned in the same way as other behaviours,
through observational and vicarious reinforcement

Question 2

Who did Bandura argue people model their behaviour after?

Answer 2

Those around us, especially of higher status: parents, teachers, older siblings, popular people

Question 3

Why are we more likely to imitate these “models”?

Answer 3

If the models are rewarded for their actions rather than punished

Question 4

what was the name of the experiment Bandura conducted ?

Answer 4

The Bobo doll experiment

Question 5

Briefly describe the bobo doll experiment

Answer 5

A group of kids are split into 3 groups and watch different models abuse a bobo doll, group 1 imitated, group 2 did not and group 3 did but to lesser extent.

Question 6

How can this theory be applied to criminality ? (important to always include)

Answer 6

If a person is exposed to a higher status model who is rewarded for their crimes than they are more likely to imitate the observed crime. Reward can be financial or higher social status

Question 7

Name another study that supports bandura, why does this make it more reliable

Answer 7

BF skinner - it has more evidence to back it up

Question 8

name a weakness?

Answer 8

There is a lack of ecological validity meaning that the findings are from a very controlled environment which may not imitate the way people experience things in real-life.