social learning theory Flashcards
what is the social learning theory?
a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
what are the key assumptions of social learning theory?
- people learn through observation and imitation not just through conditioning
-role models are key and have an important influence on behaviour
-some mediational processes are involved between stimulus and response
-learning can occur through indirect (vicarious) reinforcement
what is imitation?
copying behaviour of others
what is modelling?
observing and imitating another person (the model)
what is identification?
when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model
what are some factors for the process of identification of a role model?
-close contact
-similarities (gender, interests, culture)
-desirable characteristics
what makes you more likely to imitate someones behaviour?
if you identify with that person
what is vicarious reinforcement?
reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced in behaviour
what are mediational processes?
cognitive factors (i.e. thinking) that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
what are the 4 mediational processes?
- Attention
- Retention
- Motor reproduction
- Motivation
what is the order of the Bandura experiments?
- Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)
- Bandura and Walters (1963)
what participants did Bandura et al use in the experiment?
72 children
36 boys 36 girls
age 3-6
what were the three conditions of the Bandura et al study?
- one group shown video where the adult model acted aggressively with the Bobo doll
- one group shown video where the adult model ignored the Bobo doll and played nicely with other toys
- one group not shown any video of an adult model (control group)
how was a matched pairs design used in the Bandura et al experiment?
pre-testing was carried out to measure the natural aggressiveness of the children. They were put in groups of 3 based on similar aggressiveness and split into 3 groups
what did the researchers do to the children in the Bandura et all study after they watched the video?
the researchers frustrated the children by telling them that only good children can play with the toys and they aren’t good enough
then moved them to a new room and observed behaviour for 10 minutes
what was the behaviour observed in each of the 3 conditions in the Bandura et al study?
- aggressive role model- children imitated aggressive behaviour and went one step further by using a toy gun on the Bobo doll even though this wasn’t shown on the video
- non aggressive role model- children imitated non aggressive behaviour and played nicely with toys
- no role model- still hit Bobo doll
what does Bandura et al research show?
children are more likely to imitate aggressive and violent behaviour if seen done by adult role model, especially if they identify with the model
outline what the Bandura and Walters study showed about vicarious reinforcement?
children are more likely to perform the aggressive behaviour if they see the adult rewarded for it- they want to have the same reward
what did the Bandura and Walters study show about vicarious punishment?
children were least likely to perform the aggressive behaviour if they see the adult punished for it
what are the limitations of Bandura’s study?
-bobo dolls are designed to be hit
-SLT theory doesn’t explain why boys were more aggressive than girls in Bandura’s study
-study conducted in a lab
what were the strengths of Bandura’s study?
-his research highlights the importance of cognitive factors on learning
-useful real life applications
why is the fact that bobo dolls are designed to be hit a limitation in Bandura’s study?
children would simply behave in the way they believe they are expected to
children therefore might not have been actively trying to show aggression- this isn’t accounted for in SLT
….so low internal validity - study not fully measuring what it is supposed to
why is SLT not being able to explain why boys are more aggressive than girls in Bandura’s study a limitation?
Bandura makes little reference to the impact of biological factors on social learning
. Important influences on behaviour (e.g. hormones) were not accounted for in SLT
why was the Bandura study being conducted in a lab a limittaion?
demand characteristics more likely
low external validity- in real life there is less likely to be the period before the delayed imitation where frustration is built up.
