social learning theory

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

social learning theory proposes that we learn through observation of role models
4 key stages
-attention
-retention
-reproduction
-motivation

Question 2

point 1

Answer 2

strength, bandura 1961, uses live role models where children observe them hitting a bobo doll.
A01-attention is where we pay attention to behaviours that we consider reliavant or distinctive, these behaviours are likely to be more payed attention/ strengthened to and reproduced if: the role model is older than us, higher status than us, same geneder and seen as prestigous.
bandura found that immiation was higher when boys observed a male role model, same gender, older than them, 25.8 immiated acts on average, whereas when observing a female role model immiation dropped to 12.4. demonstrating charachteristics which enhance the likelyhood we will immitate behaviour of role models

strength: banduras study 1965 demonstrated how vicarious reinforvment can motivate people to immitate role models behaviour, this is where role model is seen to be rewarded for their behaviour, or vicarious punishment, where role model is seen to be punished for their behaviour.

found that when girls observed role model rewarded’ strong champion’ given 7 up and chocolate, imitation was 4.7 although when were punished ‘ big bully’ dropped to 1.9 acts.
demonstrating if role model rewarded more likely to reporduce behaviour and if punished less likely too

Question 3

point 2

Answer 3

weakness: lacks eco val, bobo doll not representitive of a rela life human who would hit back, findings arent neccisarily representitive of agressive behaviour in real life

weakness: either- reductionist ignores bio reasons as to why we may become aggressive- predispositions, genes MZ brendgen, suggested physical agression higher concordance in MZ twins

OR weakness: OC and CC suggest that behaviour is due to reinforcment not via reinforcment of someone else - skinner found that rats could learn through positive and negative reinforcment

Question 4

application

Answer 4

• through the knowledge that we can learn through observation of others attention, must be of impratnce to us, repeition, mental rehersal ( may not reproduce immediatley , repeated exposure. retention, high self efficacy low self esteem, motivation - vicarious or internal

allows us to understand the implications that agressive TV may have on children, may see them as a role model and want to immitate this behaviour- watershed and age limits avoid this occuring in generatioons of children