Social Learning Theory Flashcards
Assumptions of The Social Learning Theory
1) Bandura agreed with behaviourists that most of our behaviour is learned from experience and our environment, he therefore does not regard genetics as an influence on our behaviour. However his social learning theory proposed a different way people learn: through observing other people and the reinforcement or punishment that other people receive.
2) SLT believes that learning occurs directly, through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly (vicarious conditioning). In addition Bandura believed, unlike behaviourists, that meditational processes (cognitive/mental processes) that lie between stimulus and response are essential for learning to take place. These processes allow us to think about what we are going to do before we do it. For this reason they only study human learning rather than animal learning.
3) Social learning theorists believe in using scientific lab based experiments to study behaviour in an objective way.
Social Learning Theory
Modelling, Identification and Imitation
The SLT suggest people- especially children- learn by observing what other people say and do- more likely to observe and imitate some people, rather than everyone- these are called role models
in order for SLT to take place - someone must first carry out the behaviour or attitude to be learnt- modelling - person who performs this is referred to as model
types of models- live model- might be a parent or teacher or a member of a peer group
symbolic model- somebody portrayed in the media eg actress
These models provide examples of behaviour that can be observed by the individual and later reproduced by imitating them
Identification- refers to the extent to which an individual relates to a model and wants to be like them- more likely to happen if the individual feels they and the model are similar eg same sex - in order to identify with model they must feel like they are more likely to experience the same outcome in situation- if they can identify with model it makes them more likely to imitate their behaviour
much of what a child learns is through imitation of attitudes and behaviours that are modelled by those around us- factors that determine if a behaviour is imitated- a) characteristics of the model b) the observers ability to perform that behaviour c) the consequences of the behaviour
Social Learning Theory
Vicarious Reinforcement
diff from behaviourist approach
individual who observes model being rewarded for behaviour- more likely to. imitate the behaviour- want same reward
the idea that individuals don’t need to experience the rewards or punishments directly in order to learn
observe consequences of actions made by models- make judgements of the likelihood of ec
Social Learning Theory
Vicarious Reinforcement
diff from behaviourist approach
individual who observes model being rewarded for behaviour- more likely to. imitate the behaviour- want same reward
the idea that individuals don’t need to experience the rewards or punishments directly in order to learn
observe consequences of actions made by models- make judgements of the likelihood of experiencing these outcomes themselves
if an individual sees a behaviour of someone else being punished - they are less likely to imitate the behaviour
Social Learning Theory
Role of Mediational Processes
Main difference between SLT from behaviourist is that mental processes ( mediating cognitive factors) are involved in learning. - acknowledges we have some choice in our behaviours
Bandura identified 4 meditational processes in learning :
1- attention- in order to learn a behaviour we must first notice someone (the model) in their environment and pay attention to them and what they are doing
2- retention- the individual must remember what they observed
3- motor reproduction- the observer must know they have the ability to perform the behaviour
4- motivation- the individual must have a reason to demonstrate the behaviour that they have observed- imitation is more likely to happen if the individual expects to be reinforced
first two relate to learning of behaviour- second two relate to the performance of behaviour
unlike traditional behaviourism- the learning and performance don’t always occur together- observed behaviours may be stored by the observer and reproduced at later time
Research Methods - How do social learning theory psychologists study behaviour?
Description of Social learning theory research
Study- Bandura
Aim- Bandura et al (1961) conducted an experiment with young children (3-8) from the USA to demonstrate observational or imitative learning.
Procedure- Group A- children were put into a room, one at a time, with an adult who behaved in an aggressive way towards a bobo doll. The adult hit the doll with a hammer and shouted abuse at it.
Group B- one at a time children were put into a room where an adult behaved in a subdued non aggressive way towards the doll.
Each child was then put into a playroom with toys including a bobo doll and a hammer. The researchers observed the number of aggressive behaviours each child made towards the doll.
Findings- More aggressive acts were recorded for the children who had observed an adult behave aggressively than the children who had not. Boys were generally more aggressive than girls.
Conclusion- exposure to a model behaving aggressively results in observational learning and aggressive behaviour.
Evaluation of SLT Research- High Control over the variables
P- Lab studies have such tight control over all the variables that they eliminate extraneous variables
E- for example Banduras study all variables were kept the same- seeing the same adult hit the doll
L- This is a strength because it means that a cause and effect relationship between the IV(behaviour of the role model) and the DV ( behaviour of the children) can be established
Evaluation of SLT Research- Standardised Procedure
P- lab studies adopt a standardised procedure
E- for example- Bandura’s study was standardised which meant that Bandura or other researchers could complete the exact procedure over and over again
L- This is a strength because it is possible to check if the findings are consistent which adds reliability to the study
Evaluation of SLT Research- Lack of generalisation
P- Lab studies are artificial
E- for example - Bandura’s research of a child seeing an adult being aggressive to an inflatable doll isn’t an everyday situation a child would be in
L- This is a weakness because it is questionable whether we can apply the findings to real life or everyday behaviour, therefore we can say that the study lacks ecological validity
