PAPER 2 - APPROACHES - social learning theory

Question 1

what is the fundamental belief of social learning theory?

Answer 1

• allows for cognitive processes/ influences
• as well as learning through direct experience, we learn through observation and imitation of behaviour seen rewarded

Question 2

what is social learning theory?

Answer 2

• modern behaviourist approach to explain behaviour
• acknowledges that we can learn through classical & operant conditioning
• allows for cognitive processes

Question 3

what was the procedure of the study by Bandura?

Answer 3

• children observed 1 of 2 role models (1 aggressive, 1 non aggressive) and were tested for imitative learning in absence of role model
• aggressive role model interacted aggressively with the Bobo doll, half interacted non aggressively
• children then taken to a room where there was the Bobo doll as well as other toys

Question 4

what were the findings of the Bandura study?

Answer 4

• children that observed aggressive model reproduced physical & verbal aggression, children that didn’t showed no aggression
• 1/3 children that observed aggressive role model repeated models verbal aggression
• found that children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive act were more likely to show aggression

Question 5

what is modelling?

Answer 5

someone that must carry out the alternative attitude or behaviour to be learned
- copying others behaviour

Question 6

what is imitation?

Answer 6

(child learns through imitation)
- models provide examples of behaviour that can be observed and later reproduced

Question 7

what is identification?

Answer 7

the extent in which an individual related to a role model and feels they are similar to that person/ identifies with them

Question 8

what is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 8

children who observed a model rewarded for aggressive behaviour were much more likely to imitate behaviour than those who’d been punished for it

Question 9

what are mediational processes?

Answer 9

forms mental representations of behaviour displayed by the model and probable consequences of behaviour and outcomes
(occurs when observing, decides whether we imitate)

Question 10

what are the 4 mediational processes?

Answer 10

• attention
• retention
• motivation
• motor reproduction

Question 11

what are the strengths of SLT?

Answer 11

• real world application
• research support
• importance of identification
• less deterministic than traditional behaviourism

Question 12

how is real world application a strength of SLT?

Answer 12

• increases understanding of many areas of behaviour
• Ankers suggested the probability of someone engaging in criminal behaviour increases when exposed to models committing criminal behaviour
• researchers found that observing a model similar to the self should lead to more learning than observing a dissimilar model

Question 13

how is importance of identification a strength of SLT?

Answer 13

very important to identify with the role model, leads to more learning and imitating as they are more relatable, and more learning than a dissimilar model

Question 14

how is the fact that SLT being less deterministic than traditional behaviourism a strength of SLT?

Answer 14

allows for free will and allows for cognitive processes

Question 15

what are the limitations of SLT?

Answer 15

• establishing causality
• other influences

Question 16

how is establishing causality a limitation of SLT?

Answer 16

explanations of deviant behaviour says increased associations with deviant peers will increase likelihood that individual will adopt behaviour - cannot establish cause and effect

Question 17

how are other influences a limitation of SLT?

Answer 17

• disregards other potential influences
• difficult to establish one particular thing as the main influence
• children exposed to many different influences, all interacting in complex ways - genetics, media etc.
• anything can influence behaviours