Social Learning Theory (SLT)

Question 1

Believes that we learn through…?

Answer 1

Imitation

Question 2

Who proposed this as a development of the Behaviourist approach?

Answer 2

Bandura

Question 3

What did Bandura state about CC and OC?

Answer 3

He said that CC and OC can’t account for all human learning and people can learn through observation and imitation of role models

Question 4

How do people learn through role models?

Answer 4

Through vicarious reinforcement, with the help of mediational processes

Question 5

What are some assumptions of the Approach?

Answer 5

• It is concerned with human behaviour, not animal
• Learning occurs through the observation and imitation of role models
• Agrees with the Behaviourist approach in that much of behaviour is learned through experience

Question 6

What is imitation?

When is it most likely to occur?

Answer 6

• A way in which a child learns
• If we identify with the model/feel connected to them

Question 7

What is modelling?

Answer 7

When we see someone as sharing the same characteristics as us (e.g gender)

Question 8

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 8

• When imitation is more likely to happen if the model is positively reinforced
• A form of learning through observation when you learn about the consequences of behaviours from others’ actions

Question 9

What does vicarious reinforcement do?

Answer 9

Makes you want to carry out the same behaviour as you want the reward too

Question 10

What was Bandura’s study?

Answer 10

The Bobo Doll Experiment

Question 11

Explain the Bobo Doll Experiment:

Answer 11

• Bandura recorded the behaviours of 72 3-6 year olds who had watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a Bobo Doll
• The children played in the same room after, with the Bobo Doll and other toys
• One by one, each toy was taken away until left with the Bobo Doll in the room
• 24 children watched an aggressive role model
• 24 watched a non-aggressive role model
• 24 didn’t watch a role model

Question 12

Results of the Bobo Doll experiment?

Answer 12

• The aggressive role model children had behaved in an aggressive way
• Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls
• Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex role models

Question 13

Limitations of the experiment?

Answer 13

• Ethical issues as it may cause psychological harm on the children watching the aggressive role model
• Children may have thought they were supposed to hit the Bobo Doll

Question 14

What are mediational processes?

Can you name them?

Answer 14

• Cognitive controls of aggressive behaviour that occur between a stimulus and a response
• Attention, Retention, Reproduction and Motivation

Question 15

What is Attention as a mediational process?

Answer 15

States that the observer must pay attention to the aggressive actions

Question 16

What is Retention as a mediational process?

Answer 16

States the person needs to remember the actions to form a mental representation of how the behaviour is performed

Question 17

What is Reproduction as a mediational process?

Answer 17

Stats that they need to mentally assess their ability to transform their mental representation into a physical action

Question 18

What is Motivation as a mediational process?

Answer 18

States that they need a reason to imitate the behaviour

Question 19

How do Imitation and the Media link?

Answer 19

• The media can have a negative impact on children’s behaviour due to imitation
• It may vicariously reinforce violence and aggression
• It tries to justify aggression