Social learning theory Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are three basic assumptions of the social learning theory?
Behaviour is learned in a social context through observation and imitation. Factors such as vicarious reinforcement and identification can also affect imitation. Mediational processes of attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation influence whether the individual will copy the behaviour they observed.
Define modelling.
When a role model carries out a behaviour that is then observed by others.
E.g. a mother may model how to put on make-up that her daughter then observes.
Define imitation.
When an individual copies the behaviour of a role model.
What is meant by identification?
Refers to whether an individual views themselves as similar to the role model or wishes to be like them. If an individual identifies with the role model, they are more likely to imitate their behaviour.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Refers to when an individual observes a role model being rewarded for their behaviour, making them more likely to imitate the role model’s behaviour.
What are the mediational processes in social learning theory?
Mediational processes are internal mental processes that occur between observation and imitation. They include attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
What is the role of attention in mediational processes?
The individual must notice the behaviour.
What is the role of retention in mediational processes?
The individual must remember the behaviour.
What is the role of reproduction in mediational processes?
The individual must think about whether they can physically perform the behaviour.
What is the role of motivation in mediational processes?
The individual assesses whether the potential rewards outweigh the potential punishments and whether any vicarious reinforcement motivates them.
What is one limitation of the role of mediational processes in social learning?
They rely on inferences being made, as mediational processes are internal mental processes that cannot be directly observed, raising questions about credibility.
Outline Bandura’s research.
Bandura aimed to investigate whether children would imitate behaviour they observe by matching children on their initial levels of aggression and randomly allocating them into two groups. One group observed an aggressive role model, while the other observed a non-aggressive role model. Bandura found that children who observed the aggressive model displayed more aggressive acts.
What is a strength of Bandura’s research?
It was carried out in a controlled laboratory environment with standardised procedures, ensuring credibility.
What is another strength of Bandura’s research?
There was an attempt to control participant variables by matching children on their initial levels of aggressiveness, adding credibility.
What is a final strength of Bandura’s research?
High inter-observer reliability was established, reducing the risk of subjectivity affecting the observed data.
What is a limitation of Bandura’s research?
It lacks ecological validity due to being conducted in a laboratory setting, which may have influenced children’s behaviour.
How has the social learning theory contributed to our understanding of human behaviour?
It proposed that behaviour is learned through observation and imitation, influenced by factors such as identification and vicarious reinforcement, and involves mediational processes.
What is a strength of the social learning theory’s contribution?
It has received supporting evidence from Bandura’s Bobo doll research, suggesting that children learn behaviours through observing and imitating role models.
What is a limitation of the social learning theory’s contribution?
It has received contradictory evidence, suggesting that behaviour might also be influenced by biological factors like testosterone levels.
What is another limitation of the social learning theory’s contribution?
The study of mediational processes has relied on inferences being made, raising questions about credibility.
What is a final strength of the social learning theory’s contribution?
It led to practical applications in society, such as the 9pm watershed to prevent children from imitating undesirable behaviours.
