Social Learning Theory

• observing is watching the behaviour of others
• Imitation is when we learn by observing and copying others
• Identification is the extent of which a person relates to a model and feels they are like them
• Modelling is when a person imitates the actions of the model
• Vicarious reinforcement is observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour and the consequences of their actions
• Meditational processes are:

  1. Attention
  2. Retention
  3. Motor reproduction
  4. Motivation
• Banduras research= Bobo Doll experiment
• Bobo Doll research:

  1. recorded learnt aggression
  2. Group one saw aggression-> praise
  3. Group two saw aggression-> scolding
  4. Group three saw aggressio-> nothing (control)
  5. Most aggressive was= 1->3->2
• Banduras research showed behaviour is learnt through vicarious reinforcement and role models
• SLT helped us understand the importance of role models in promoting desirable behaviour
• SLT helped establish guidance effects of media violence on aggression
• SLT is a nomothetic approach
• SLT used lab experiments and gathered scientific, empirical data with human participants