Social Learning Theory Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are the basic assumptions of social learning theory?
1) behaviour is leaned from the environment, genetics do not influence behaviour
2) behaviour is learned from observing others and the reinforcement or punishment they receive
What is Identification?
When an individual is influenced by another because they are in some way similar to that person/ they wish to be like them.
What is imitation?
When someone observes behaviour from a role model and copies it.
The determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated are: characteristics of a model, the observers ability to perform the ability, observed consequences of the behaviour.
What is modelling?
Observing the behaviour of a role model. Might observe a live model (teacher, parent), or copy a symbolic model.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving.
A reward makes a behaviour more likely to be imitated
What is the role of mediating processes
Bandura- There is some thought prior to imitation that intervenes between stimulus and response.
What are the four mediational processes?
Attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation
What does attention mean?
For a behaviour to be imitated we have to notice it.
What does retention mean?
We must remember the behaviour in order to imitate it
What is motor reproduction?
We must have the physical ability to reproduce the behaviour.
What is motivation?
We must have the desire to perform the behaviour. If the perceived rewards outweigh the perceived costs then the observer will be motivated to imitate it.
What was the aim of Bandura’s research?
Aim: To examine if children will imitate an aggressive adult model and to discover the extent to which the gender of the model influences the child’s motivation to imitate.
Outline the method of Bandura’s research.
36 male and 36 females between 37-69 months.
Half of the group observed an aggressive role model and the other half observed a non-aggressive role model. They were subdivided by gender and whether the role model was the same or opposite sex.
The aggressive model hit the bobo doll with the hammer and shouted abuse at it. The non-aggressive model played with toys and ignored the bobo doll. The ppts watched for 10 minutes. After, they were taken to the room and told to play with a range of toys.
What was the result of Bandura’s research?
Children who had observed aggressive behaviour acted more aggressively. Boys acted more aggressive than girls and there was a greater level of imitation of same sex role models.
What are the evaluation points of Bandura’s studies?
(+) Experimental method
(-) Low ecological validity
(-) Children as participants
(-) Unethical (protection of participants
Why is using the experimental method in bandura’s studies a strength?
-Used controlled conditions (room filled with toys) to establish that the IV: manipulating the behaviour of the model causes the DV: effect on the children’s behaviour.
-strength as it allows Bandura to establish the cause and effect relationship between the observation and imitation of behaviour.
Why does Bandura’s study have low ecological validity?
-Conducted in an unfamiliar controlled environment (room with toys)
-No interaction between the child and the model.
-The effects of the modelled aggression were measured almost immediately.
-These conditions are unlikely to happen in real life.
Why is using children as ppts a limitation of Bandura’s study?
The children in the aggressive condition may have had demand characteristics - believed that they were required to behave aggressively towards the doll.
-Results are not valid
Why is Bandura’s study considered unethical?
Bandura manipulated some ppts to respond in an aggressive manner & purposely made the kids experience aggression arousal.
-Did not protect the ppts from harm - goes against the current BPS ethical guidelines.
What are the evaluation points of the Social Learning Theory?
(+) Supported by evidence (Bandura’s Bobbo doll experiments)
(+) Acknowledges the role of cognitions in behaviour
(+) Understands cultural differences in behaviour
(-) Takes the nurture side in the nature vs nurture debate
How is the SLT supported by evidence?
Bandura demonstrated that children who observed an aggressive model behaved more aggressively than children who observed a non-aggressive model. There was also a higher level of imitation of same-sex role models
-research suggests that SLT provides an accurate explanation of aggression & may be able to explain other behaviours.
-The study provides strong evidence for social learning theory
How does SLT acknowledge the tole of cognitions in behaviour?
Bandura emphasised the role of mediating processes in behaviour and suggested that cognitions intervene between stimulus and response. This implies that there is more than one factor causing behaviour & the individual has at least some control over their actions
-This theory provides a more holistic explanation & less deterministic view of behaviour than operant and classical conditioning
How does SLT enable us to understand cultural differences in behaviour?
Social learning principles can help us to understand the diversity of cultural norms across different cultures. It helps us to understand how individuals will display different behaviours as a result of being exposed to different models + can help us understand how cultural norms are transmitted through a particular society.
-It enhances our understanding many different behaviours e.g. how children acquire their gender role.
How does SLT favour nurture in the nature vs nurture debate?
Bandura suggested that we learn behaviour through observation & vicarious reinforcement. This claim ignores the wealth of evidence that suggests that biological factors also contribute behaviour.
-Takes a one-sided view. Bandura ignores that fact that in his research boys were more aggressive than girls regardless of the experimental setting. These findings suggest that there is a biological factor to aggression.
