Social Learnng Theory AO3

Question 1

✅ Why is Social Learning Theory (SLT) considered a more comprehensive explanation of human learning compared to behaviourism?

Answer 1

SLT acknowledges the importance of mediational processes, which are cognitive factors that occur between stimulus and response. These include attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation. This goes beyond the behaviourist focus on observable behaviour, making SLT a more complete explanation of learning.

Question 2

✅ How can SLT be used to explain the influence of media on behaviour?

Answer 2

SLT shows that behaviours can be learned from observing models in the media, such as television or social media influencers. This helps explain how certain behaviours, such as aggression or fashion trends, can spread quickly across different societies.

Question 3

❌ How does SLT underestimate biological factors?

Answer 3

SLT does not fully account for the influence of biological factors, such as the role of hormones. For example, in Bandura’s studies, boys showed higher levels of aggression than girls, which could be explained by higher testosterone levels. This suggests that biological factors also play a role in learning, which SLT overlooks.

Question 4

❌ What is a major methodological criticism of SLT?

Answer 4

SLT is heavily supported by lab-based studies, such as Bandura’s Bobo doll experiments. These controlled settings may lead to demand characteristics, where participants behave in a way they think is expected (e.g., hitting the Bobo doll because it is designed to be struck). This limits the real-world validity of the findings.