Social Learning Theory (SLT) Flashcards
(21 cards)
Define social learning theory
A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.
What is the assumption of the SLT
- Humans naturally learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context
- Mediational processes determine whether a student follows the behaviors they observe
- Learning also occurs directly, through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly
Define Identification
- When an observer associates themselves
with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
What is a role model
A person whom the observer identifies with.
What are features of a role model
Someone attractive
Has a high social status
Of similar age
Same gender
Define identification
The process by which an observer relates/ associates themselves with a role model and aspires to become like the role model
What is vicarious reinforcement
A type of indirect learning which occurs when an observer sees their role model being rewarded for displaying a certain behaviour the observer is then motivated to do this behaviour
Define imitation and when does it occur
Copying the behaviour of others.
Only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded (reinforced) rather than punished
Define medational processes
Mediational processes - Cognitive factors (i.e. thinking) that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
Explain why individuals do not automatically mimic every behaviour
If any of the 4 mediational processes are missing then behaviour wont be imitated
What other approach does the SLT agree with
-The behaviourist appraoch
-However They differ from the fact that SLT believes that we can learn both directly and indirectly.(observartion)
Define the 4 mediational processes
Attention-The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention- how well the behaviour is rembered
Reproducition-The ability of the observer to perform the behvaiour
Motivation-The will to perform the behaviour
What is vicarious punishment
Witnessing someone getting punished for an action that makes us less likely to adopt that behaviour
What is the role of mediational processes
Mediational process explains why individuals do not automatically mimic behaviour they observe. This is because if any of the 4 mediational processes are missing the behaviour will not be imitated
WHat is an example of a diff between behaviourisn and SLT (3)
- Learning and performance is the same activity in Behaviourism
- However with SLT they are not the same
- e.g. if someone learns through observation they think they can keep that memory until the appropiate time to use it—>the info has been internalised to be used at a later time
Procedure(4) and findings(2) of albert bandura (1961)
Procedure:
- The participants were divided into two groups.
- The first group observed an adult demonstrating physical and verbal aggression towards a Bobo doll in a room filled with toys.
- The second group watched an adult interact non-aggressively with different toys.
- An experimenter observed and recorded the children’s physical and verbal aggression from behind a one-way mirror.
Findings:
-The findings revealed that children exposed
to an aggressive model were more likely to be
aggressive themselves.
-Additionally, the results highlighted the role of identification, particularly among boys, who were more likely to mimic aggression after observing a male model compared to those who saw an aggressive female model.
Example of vicarious reinforcement from albert banduras study (2)
-Children witnessed adults acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll, followed by the adult receiving rewards (sweets), punishment (being hit with a wooden golf club), or neither.
-The findings indicated that children who observed the adult being punished displayed significantly less aggression towards the Bobo doll compared to children in the other conditions.
SLT High internal validity (3)
- A strength of SLT is it is supported by robust evidence; for example, the Bobo doll study has high internal validity due to its laboratory setting.
-This study ensured environmental control by having participants follow the same procedure in the same room with access to identical toys.
-It also used a matched pairs design to control participant variables, assessing children’s pre-existing aggression levels to ensure each group contained an equal mix of aggressive children.
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Low ecological validity (4)
-One limitation of Bandura’s research is that it only demonstrated short-term social learning;
-Aggression may not be imitated weeks or months after observation.
-The study’s ecological validity can also be questioned, as the aggression observed in a controlled lab setting may not directly translate to real-world scenarios, such as imitating televised violence in school environments.
-These concerns raise doubts about the applicability of Social Learning Theory processes to everyday life.
SLT does not take biological factors into context (4)
- Bandura makes little reference to the impact of biological factors on social learning.
- One consistent finding in the Bobo doll experiments was that boys were often more aggressive than girls regardless of the specifics of the experimental situation.
- This may be explained by hormonal factors, such as differences in levels of testosterone, a hormone that is present in greater quantities in boys than girls and
which is linked to increased aggressive behaviour. - This means that this important influence on behaviour is not
accounted for in SLT.
Over reliance on evidence from lab studies
- Many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation of young children’s behaviour in lab settings.
- Lab studies are often criticised for their contrived nature where participants may respond to demand characteristics.
- It has been suggested, in relation to the Bobo doll
research that, because the main purpose of the doll is to strike it, the children were simply behaving in a way that they
thought was expected. - Thus the research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
