Lesson 4 The Learning Approach Flashcards
Define the social learning theory
New patterns of behaviour can be learnt by observing the behaviour of others
Who devised the social learning theory?
Bandura 1977
What is step 1 of the social learning theory?
Modelling
A person models or carries out a behaviour so the observer can learn the behaviour
What can the model be like?
Live or symbolic
What is step 2 of the social learning theory?
Imitation
The person learns the behaviour through imitation of behaviours modelled by significant others
What are characteristics needed for imitation to occur?
Characteristics of the model
The observers perceived ability to perform the behaviour shown
The observed consequences of behaviour
What is the step 3 of the social learning theory?
The extent to which the observer relates to the model and feels that he/she is similar to them so they can experience the same outcomes as the model
The person would aim to be like the model as much as they could
What is step 4 of the social learning theory?
Vicarious reinforcement
The person observes the consequences of behaviours by observing a model and if rewards are given to the model, the children are more likely to imitate the behaviour shown
What does social learning place importance on?
Internal cognitive mediational processes
What are the mediational processes?
Observer must form a mental representation of the behaviour being displayed by the model and the likely consequences of the behaviour in terms of expectancies
What do mediational processes involve?
Attention- observer pays attention to the behaviour of the model
Retention- observer remembers behaviour of the model
Motor reproduction- observer must be able to perform the behaviour
Motivation- observer must be willing to perform the behaviour in light of rewards
What was the study Bandura carried out?
Bobo doll experiment
Procedure of Bandura’s study
36 male and 36 female children from 37-69 months
They observed aggressive or non-aggressive adult models and then observed to see how they imitated them
Children were divided into three groups with males and females in a matched pair design
For 10 minutes,
Group 1- 24 children watched an adult role model behave aggressively towards a bobo doll- 6 girls and 6 boys watched a man and 6 boys and 6 girls watched a woman
Group 2- 24 watched an adult role model not behave aggressively so they ignored the doll
Group 3- 24 children were a control group and didn’t watch the doll and an adult at all
The children were then made to feel frustrated by being shown toys and not being allowed to play with them
The children were then taken into a room with a bobo doll and observed for 20 minutes
What were the findings from Bandura’s study?
Children that were shown an aggressive adult model reproduced the same aggressive behaviour whereas children who didn’t see an aggressive adult model did not reproduce aggressive behaviour
33% of children who observed and heard verbal aggression repeated what they had seen and heard
0% of children in non-aggressive group showed aggression
Girl imitated more physical aggression after watching a male role model and more verbal aggression after watching a female role model
Boys imitated more same-sex models than girls
Strengths of the social learning theory
- provided a great understanding of how criminal behaviour is learnt- Akers found that criminals see, to engage in more criminal behaviour when they are exposed to a role model that they can highly identify with
-more effective when the model is very similar to the observer- it makes it easier for the observer to visualise themselves in the place of the model - this approach is less determinist than the behaviourist approach- Bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism- we are not only influenced by our external environment but also by our own choices through free will
Weaknesses of the social learning theory
- does not take into account cause and effect as even though associations with peers can increase the likelihood of delinquent behaviour we cannot assume that delinquency is caused by social theory alone, there are other factors such as deviant and poor attitudes
- it ignores other potential influences on behaviour like the role of biology or genetics eg boys might be more aggressive due to the hormone testosterone
- lad studies so participants are more likely to show demand characteristics so study may lack ecological validity as the children may have just been behaving the way they thought they were meant to behave
