The Learning Approach: SLT

Question 1

What is the Social Learning Theory?

Answer 1

a way of explaining behaviour through direct & indirect reinforcement which combines learning theory with the role of cognitive factors

Question 2

Assumptions

Answer 2

• behaviour is learnt from the environment not genes
• behaviour is learnt from observing others & the reinforcement/punishment they receive
• learning is direct (conditioning) and indirect

Question 3

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 3

• indirect learning where an individual imitates behaviour if they see another individual being rewarded & avoid that behaviour if they’re being punished
• is a key factor in imitation

Question 4

What are mediational processes?

Answer 4

cognitive factors (like thinking) that influence learning & mediate between stimulus and a response

Question 5

What are the 4 mediational processes?

Answer 5

• attention - extent to which we notice certain behaviours
• retention - how well behaviour is remembered
• motor reproduction - ability of observer to perform the behaviour
• motivation - the will to perform the behaviour usually determined by whether it was rewarded or punished

Question 6

What is modelling?

Answer 6

when people (normally children) imitate the behaviour of those they classify as role models who they possessive similar characteristics to

Question 7

Evaluation: Importance of cognitive factors in learning

Answer 7

• operant & classical conditioning can’t offer an adequate account of learning on their own
• humans & some animals store info about behaviour of others to make judgements when they need to perform certain actions
• Bandura said “From observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed”
• SLT provides a detailed explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes

Question 7

Evaluation: Over-reliance on evidence from lab studies

Answer 7

• many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation under lab settings
• lab settings often criticised since participants may respond to demand characteristics
• e.g. in Bobo doll experiment the purpose of the doll is so hit it so the participants did what was expected of them - not from observing the model
• research tells us little of how children actually learn aggression in everyday life

Question 8

Evaluation: Underestimates influence of biological factors

Answer 8

• Bandura doesn’t really refer to biological factors in social learning
• in Bobo doll experiment the boys were overall more aggressive than girls - this may be due to hormonal factors since boys have higher levels of testosterone which is linked to aggressive behaviour
• biological influence not account for in SLT which makes it a limitation

Question 9

Evaluation: Explains cultural differences in behaviour

Answer 9

• advantage of SLT is that it explains cultural differences in behaviour
• SLT explains how children learn from others but also the media which explains cultural norms transmitted through certain societies
• this has proved to being useful in understanding the range of behaviours portrayed