Social Learning Theory Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is the social learning theory
This is a theory that was created by Bandura and he combined aspects of the behaviourist approach with cognitive factors. He believed that behaviours we learned from experience by proposing that we learn through observation and imitation. He suggested that cognitive factors intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired, leading him to develop 4 meditational processes
What are the 4 meditaional processes
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
Consider the meditational processes in detail
As children we are more likely to pay ATTENTION and RETAIN behaviour of someone we idenfity with, and this is known as identification. The Pierson we identify with is a model and imitating the model is called modelling. However not all models are equal, for example we are more likely to comply of someone who has certain characteristics that influence attention, such as being attractive or having a high status. But seeing and remembering information doesn’t mean we can copy it, we need to be able to have the skill to be able to imitate it (MOTOR REPRODUCTION). Therefore we need to build up the MOTIVATION to be able to try it. Usually this is determined by consequences such as being g rewarded of punished.
Outlines Banduras research
Bobo doll study, which took place in 1961, and invloved Bandura recording the behaviour of young children who either watched an adult attack the bobo doll with a hammer and shout abuse or watched an adult treat it in a non aggressive way.
The children watched the adults (models) behaviour (attention) and remembered it (retention). When the adults left they had the ability and want to copy what they did (motivation and motor reproduction).
A later study of Banduras research
He conducted the bobo doll study and had 3 groups:
1. The first group saw adults being prised for their behaviour
2. The second group saw the adults being punished for their behaviour
3. Control group (nothing happened to the adults)
Results showed that group 1 were more likely to copy the model (more so boys), group 2 were less likely to copy (however lots boys still copied, even after seeing the punishment) and group 3 had similar results to group 1.
Evaluation strength
P- real world factors
E- SLT principles can account to how children learn from other people around them, as well as through media. This can also be shown through the education system, such as teachers setting an example of good behaviours and modelling how to do tasks such as writing.
E- wide spread applications.
Evaluation limitaion
P- bobo doll study is flawed
E- it only used children ages 3-5 so we can only acquire how they quire the behaviour that the model showed, as well as this bobo dolls are designed to be hit, so what else were the children supposed to do
E-question the validity
P- unplayed the influence of biological factors
E- while Bandura did acknowledge that biological differences did affect learning, he emphasised the role of the environment. There has been research evidence that suggests that neuron’s in the brain, play a key role in obersvaetional learning.
E- underemphasised biological influences on behaviour
