Social learning theory

Question 1

How does the social learning theory explain behaviour?

Answer 1

Learning takes place in a social context due to exposure to others behaviours

Question 2

What are models?

Answer 2

• For social learning to take place someone must carry out the attitude or behaviour to be learnt

Question 3

What are the 2 types of models?

Answer 3

• Live models: real people (teacher, parent)
• Symbolic models: TV character

Question 4

If we relate to models what is more likely to happen? (IDENTIFICATION)

Answer 4

Imitation of behaviour

Question 5

Define vicarious reinforcement

Answer 5

Behaviour is likely to be repeated if rewarded directly or model is seen rewarded

Question 6

Define vicarious punishment

Answer 6

Behaviour is less likely to be repeated if punished directly or observed

Question 7

What are the mediational processes involved in SLT?

Answer 7

• also known as the black box (internal mental processes)
• Attention: we must pay attention to the behaviour- depends on factors like how interesting the model is or the cognitive ability of the learner
• Retention: we must remember the behaviour/ the consequence- depends on factors like if the behaviour is complex and therefore may not be retained
• Reproduction: we must have the skill/abilities to reproduce the behaviour - factors like lack of skill/ resources
• Motivation: we must have the desire to imitate the behaviour- links to identification/carious reinforcement

Question 8

Outline Bandura’s procedure

Answer 8

• 72, 5-3 year olds (36 males, 36 females)
• watched adult: attacking bobo doll, playing neutrally, no model (control group)
• Children’s aggression measured beforehand and creations of group followed a matched pairs design
• All children given mild aggression arousal, placed in a room with toys they couldn’t play with

Question 9

What were the findings of Bandura’s study?

Answer 9

• Children who observed aggressive behaviour imitated that behaviour
• In neutral group , they showed no aggression
• Effect was stronger if the model was the same gender (identification)
• About 1/3 of children who observed aggressive model repeated models verbal responses

Question 10

What are mediational processes?

Answer 10

cognitive processes that influence learning and come in between stimulus and response`

Question 11

A03 - Strength - Useful applications

Answer 11

• The principles of social learning theory has been usefully applied to increase our understanding of human behaviour, including criminal behaviour
• For example, Akers suggested the probability of a person commiting/engaging in criminal behaviour increases when exposed to models who commit criminal behaviour
• They identify with these models and develop the expectations of a positive consequence for their own criminal behaviour
• Ulrich supports this claim in a review of the literature, finding that the strongest cause of violent behaviour in adolescence was association with delinquent peers, where violence was both modelled and rewarded
• Supports the principle of social learning theroy

Question 12

A03 - Strength - Research to support identification

Answer 12

• There is research to support identification in the process of observation and imitation
• SLT states that observing a model similar to the self should lead to more learning than a dissimilar model
• Greater identification with a model leads to more learning because it is easier to visualize the self, so the observer feels as if they are having the same experience
• Fox and Balison found evidence for this by using a computer generated ‘virtual’ humans engaging in exercise or merely loitering=
• Virtual models either looked similar or dissimilar to ppts
• Ppts who viewed their virtual model engaged in more exercise in 24 hours following the experiment than ppts who viewed their models loitering
• Suggests that characteristic such as age/gender/ethnicity may play a key role in the process of imitating behaviour of others

Question 13

A03 - Limitation - Difficult establishing casualty

Answer 13

• There is difficulty demonstrating the direction of casualty in SLT research
• The SLT claims that increased associations with delinquent peers increase the likelihood of that individual adopting that behaviour
• Sigel and Mccormick suggests that individuals who have deviant attitudes and values would seek out peers with similar attitudes and behaviours as they are more fun to be around than their less rekless counterparts
• Therefore, this means that cause of delinquency may not be social learning but as a result of exposure to deviant role models but the possesion of deviant attitudes beforehand
• Questions how much SLT can be used to explain the cause of behaviour

Question 14

A03 - Limitations - Underestimating biological factors

Answer 14

• It underestimates the influence of biological factors such as the possible role of testosterone in aggression
• SLT may fail to explain why boys are more likely to imitate physical aggressive behaviour than girls
• Indeed in Bandura’s study boys engaged in more than twice as many acts physical aggression than girls.
• This finding cannot be explained through the concept of social learning theory
• Suggests that the SLT may not be a complete explanation for behaviour