Social learning theory Flashcards
(9 cards)
What does social learning theory propose?
People learn through the observation and imitation of role models
How does social learning work?
- Vicarious reinforcement: is another person is rewarded for their behaviour, individuals observe and imitate this anticipating a similar reward
- Identification: more likely to imitate role models e.g. parents
- Mediational processes: cognitive processes involved in the learning and producing of new behaviours: observer must form mental representations of the behaviour displayed by the model and the probable consequences of that behaviour - when opportunity arises in future, expectation = positive consequences
What are the meditational processes?
1) attention - behaviour must be noticed
2) retention - how well the behaviour is remembered
3) motor reproduction - how able the observer is to reproduce the behaviour
4) motivation - the will to carry. out the behaviour, usually based on reward
What was the Bobo Doll study?
Children observed adults either and aggressive (physically and verbally aggressive) or non-aggressive model:
- Children who observed the aggressive model reproduced physically and verbally aggressive behaviour (1/3 of children who observed the aggressive model repeated the models verbal responses) resembling that of the model
- Children who observed the non-aggressive model exhibited virtually no aggression
What did Bandura and Walters find in a follow up study?
Children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive acts were more likely to show high levels of aggression in their own play
What is a strength of social learning theory?
Recognition of cognitive factors - provides a more comprehensive and realistic account of human learning
- recognises the importance of learning from others, would be dangerous if we only relied on the effects of our own actions
Akers - increase understanding of criminal behaviours - suggests the probability of someone engaging in criminal behaviour increases when they are exposed to models who commit criminal behaviour - identify with these models and develop the expectation of positive consequences
What is a limitation of social learning theory?
Ignore biological factors - observational learning could be the result of mirror neurons that allow us to empathise and imitate e.g. laugh if someone else is laughing
What is an issue with the Bobo Doll study?
Artificial - in a lab
Based on young children (experience demand characteristics)
Bobo dolls are meant to be hit
This underpins SLT and therefore limits ideas
What research support is there for identification?
Fox and Bailenson - used computer generated ‘virtual’ humans engaging in exercise- either looked similar or dissimilar to participants - is they looked similar they engaged in more exercise
Concluded greater identification with model leads to more learning because it is easier to visualise the self in a place of the model
