Social Learning Theory

• What does Social Learning Theory include?

  • Imitation
  • Identification
  • Modelling
  • Vicarious Reinforcement
  • The role of Mediational processes
  • Bandura's research and development
• What did Bandura do?

  Bandura developed the Behaviourist Approach and added in mental processes as an important factor of learning.

  Behaviour is learned but our thought processes are also important in why we behave the way we do.
• What is Social Learning Theory?

  SLT states we learn through Imitation and Observation of other people- in other words learning in a social setting.
• What does learning occur through?

  Learning occurs directly through operant and classical conditioning, but also indirectly.
• What is indirect learning called?

  Vicarious Reinforcement.
• What is the main difference between Behaviourism and SLT?

  Cognitions.

  SLT is the bridge between Behaviourism and The Cognitive Approach.
• What does vicarious mean?

  Indirect.
• What is Vicarious Reinforcement?

  The process of learning through observing the behaviours of others(models) on whether they are rewarded or punished for their behaviour. The person is more likely to imitate the behaviour of the model which is being rewarded. This is learned indirectly.
• What are the 4 mediational processes?

  1. Attention
  2. Retention
  3. Motor Reproduction
  4. Motivation
• What is Attention?

  The extent to which we notice certain behaviours.

  If you don't notice a behaviour you won't imitate it.
• What is Retention?

  How well the behaviour is remembered(cognitive ability).

  If is retained, it can be used at a later date.
• What is Motor Reproduction?

  Having the ability to perform the behaviour.
• What is Motivation?

  The desire to imitate the behaviour, this is determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

  This will happen most likely when they share similar characteristics e.g. same gender or they admire the model or they see the model be rewarded.
• Aim and Method of Bandura's Study:

  Aim: To investigate whether aggression can be learned through SLT principles.

  Method:72 children(36 male and 36 female) aged between 3 and 6 years old were put into one of three groups for 10 minutes.
• What were the three groups?

  1. Aggressive Model
  2. Non-Aggressive Model
  3. Control Group
• Aggressive Model Group:

  The Child played in a room while an adult hit and shouted at a 'Bobo doll'(a plastic inflatable toy doll which was heavy at the bottom and wobbled when hit.)

  This group was further sub-divided by the gender of the child and the adult model.
• Non-aggressive Model:

  The child played in a room while an adult played quietly with a construction set.

  This group was further sub-divided by the gender of the child and the adult model.
• Control Group:

  The child did not see the model.
• Results of Bandura's Study:

  Children who saw the aggressive model produced more aggressive acts than those in either of the other two groups.

  Boys imitated same sex models more then girls.

  Girls imitated more physical aggression if they saw a male model and more verbal aggression if they saw a female model.
• Conclusion of Bandura's Study:

  Aggressive behaviour can be learned, in children through observation and imitation of a model
• Two Strengths of Social Learning Theory:

  1. It recognises the role of cognitions( thought processes.)
  2. It can explain cultural differences in behaviour.
• Two Weaknesses in Social Learning Theory:

  1. It relies heavily on Lab experiments.
  2. It does not consider the role of biological factors on SLT.
• What is modelling?

  The process of identifying with a role model is called modelling.
• What is the name of Bandura's Study?

  The Bobo Doll Experiment.