Learning Approaches: Social Learning Theory (SLT)

Question 1

Define Social Learning Theory (SLT)

Answer 1

An approach to psychology that explains behaviour through learning, specifically through observation + imitation in a social context (as well as conditioning)

Question 2

When did the Social Learning Theory emerge?

Answer 2

1970s

Question 3

Why did Social Learning Theory emerge?

Answer 3

Bandura agreed with the Behaviourist Approach, but wanted to add the importance of observing + imitating models

Question 4

What two approaches does SLT bridge? How?

Answer 4

Behaviourist Approach - recognises importance of learning (directly through conditioning + indirectly through modelling)

Cognitive Approach - recognises importance of meditational processes, which are cognitive factors influencing whether behaviour occurs

Question 5

Who was the key figure in SLT?

Answer 5

Bandura

Question 6

Outline the key assumptions of SLT

Answer 6

• Behaviour can be learnt directly through conditioning (as stated in the Behaviourist Approach)
• Behaviour can be learnt indirectly through observing + imitating models
• Mediational processes occur between stimulus-response, acting as cognitive influence over whether a behaviour occurs

Question 7

What are the two types of models

Answer 7

• Live (directly in front of you - e.g. parent)

- Symbolic (portrayed in media etc)

Question 8

How is behaviour indirectly learnt through modelling?

Answer 8

• Observe a model

- Imitate behaviour at time or (more often) encode behaviour (remember it so it can be copied later)

Question 9

What makes people more likely to imitate models?

Answer 9

• Identification
• Direct reinforcement
• Vicarious reinforcement
• Mediational processes

Question 10

What is identification + how does it make people more likely to imitate models’ behaviour?

Answer 10

When an observer associates with a model + wants to be like them
- If people identify with the model, more likely to imitate them

Question 11

What is direct reinforcement + how does it make people more likely to imitate models’ behaviour?

Answer 11

Positive + negative reinforcement
- If the behaviour has been imitated once, positive + negative reinforcement increase the likelihood it will be performed again

Question 12

What is vicarious reinforcement + how does it make people more likely to imitate models’ behaviour?

Answer 12

Observing somebody else receive positive or negative reinforcement for a behaviour

• If people observe somebody else being positively or negatively reinforced they are more likely to imitate it (think they will receive the same reinforcement)
• If people observe somebody being punished for a behaviour they are less likely to imitate it

Question 13

What are mediational processes + how does it make people more likely to imitate models’ behaviour

Answer 13

Internal cognitive processes that influence whether a behaviour is completed
- The more of the mediational processes experience, the more likely behaviour is imitated

Question 14

What are the four mediational processes?

Answer 14

• Attention
• Retention
• Motor reproduction
• Motivation

Question 15

What is attention?

Answer 15

A mediational process.
Extent to which a behaviour is noticed.
(Lots of attention paid = likely to complete behaviour)

Question 16

What is retention

Answer 16

A mediational process
Extent to which a behaviour is remembered
(Lots of retention = more likely to complete behaviour)

Question 17

What is motor reproduction

Answer 17

A mediational process
Ability to physically perform a behaviour
(To complete a behaviour you must be able to physically perform it)

Question 18

What is motivation?

Answer 18

A mediational process
Extent to which you want to perform a behaviour (influenced by identification, direct reinforcement, vicarious reinforcement)
(If you really want to perform a behaviour its more likely to happen)

Question 19

What is the main experiment Bandura did to support his SLT?

Answer 19

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study (1961)

Question 20

What was the aim of Bandura’s Bobo Doll study?

Answer 20

To investigate if social behaviours (e.g. aggression) can be acquired by observation + imitation

Question 21

Outline the process of Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study

Answer 21

• Ppts: 36 boys, 36 girls, Stanford Uni nursery
• Ppts split into 3 matched pairs groups - similar aggression levels
• Each matched pairs group experienced a diff condition…
  Condition A: ppts shown aggressive model (attacked Bobo doll)
  Condition B: ppts shown non-aggressive model (played nicely, avoided doll)
  Condition C: ppts shown no model (control)
• Ppts taken to room with toys + told not to play with them (mild aggression arousal)
• Ppts taken to room with toys, including bobo doll
• Ppts observed for 20 mins through 2 way mirror using time sampling, recording behaviour at intervals of 5 secs

Question 22

Outline the findings of Bandura’s Bobo Doll study

Answer 22

• Condition A ppts (aggressive model) acted far more aggressively
• Little difference in verbal aggression between boys + girls
• Boys more physically aggressive than girls
• Boys more likely to imitate same sex models (less significant pattern in girls)

Question 23

Outline the conclusions of Bandura’s Bobo Doll study

Answer 23

• Children are able to learn social behaviours (e.g. aggression) by observing + imitating models
• Partial support for importance of identifying with models in order to imitate them

Question 24

Give 2 positive evaluation points for SLT

Answer 24

Culturally relative

• SLT accounts for differences in behaviour between cultures
• Different cultures exposed to different models, impacting behaviour
• Other approaches (E.g. biological) cannot explain this
• So, SLT is better able to explain differences in behaviour across cultures than other approaches

Real world application

• Understanding SLT has helped in the real world
• E.g. The Watershed - ‘adult’ TV programmes only shown after 9pm to prevent children observing + imitating inappropriate models
• Having this psychological understanding has helped reduce children learning inappropriate behaviours

Question 25

Give 2 negative evaluation points for SLT

Answer 25

Completely ignores biological influence on behaviour

• Both learning theories ignore the idea that some behaviour may be biologically innate
• E.g. Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study - despite observing the same models males were more physically aggressive, SLT cannot provide an explanation, but a biological approach could explain this in terms of high testosterone levels
• So, SLT ignores biological factors, even when they appear the only logical explanation for behavioural differences

Methodological issues with the key experiment

• The key experiment (Bobo Doll Study) had issues
• Lab: unfamiliar setting (low external validity)
• Demand characteristics: in this different setting ppts may have thought their purpose was to imitate the model (low internal validity)
• So, a real response to the doll that is internally valid + also generalisable to the real world may not have been measured - lowering the validity of the conclusions

Question 26

Is SLT deterministic?

Answer 26

Partially

• Still recognises importance of learning (environmental determinism)
• Recognises an element of free will because of mediational processes