social learning theory

Question 1

who made the social learning theory assumptions

Answer 1

Bandura

Question 2

what was Bandura’s study

Answer 2

bobo doll study

children watched a video of adults being aggressive towards the doll or playing nicely

they were then observed playing in a room where those who had watched the aggressive video behaved more aggressively than those who watched the non aggressive one

Question 3

what are the assumptions for social learning theory

Answer 3

we learn from our environment only

lab studies are the best way to find results

we can learn directly and indirectly

we learn through observation and imitation

Question 4

how does indirect leaning take place?

Answer 4

vicarious reinforcement

Question 5

define vicarious reinforcement

Answer 5

seeing someone get reinforced for a behaviour and imitating them to receive or avoid the same consequence

Question 6

define the mediational processes

Answer 6

cognitive factors that come between the stimulus and response

Question 7

what are the mediational processes?

Answer 7

Attention is piqued

Retention - behaviour is remembered

Motor reproduction - thinking “Can I imitate this?”

Motivation - thinking “Am I being reinforced?”

Question 8

define identification

Answer 8

when an observer associates themselves with a role model because they are like them and/or want to be like them

Question 9

social learning theory AO3 - strength 1

Answer 9

research support, Bandura’s bobo doll study

there was a change in aggression levels in the children depending on what they were shown (violent or non violent adults)

giving credibility for modelling and imitation

Question 10

social learning theory AO3 - CA 1

Answer 10

extraneous variables in the study

the room had violent toys which could have made the children more likely to be violent

e.g guns and hammers

an alternative explanation for their aggression

Question 11

social learning theory AO3 - strength 2

Answer 11

recognition of cognitive processes

have not oversimplified learning to observable behaviour

mediational processes

Question 12

social learning theory AO3 - CA 2

Answer 12

lacks reference to biological factors that impact behaviour

e.g hormones and genes

Question 13

social learning theory AO3 - strength 3

Answer 13

real life application

use in the media, such as age ratings for film

useful theory to protect people

Question 14

social learning theory AO3 - CA 3

Answer 14

this is contradictory

people without abnormal cognitive processes would not be able to identify with horror villains who model homicidal behaviour

due to other factors such as past experiences