Social-Learning Theory

• imitation 


  The copying of the behaviour of others, especially role models
• Identification 


  A social process whereby we associate ourselves with another person and so want to be like them

  This is more likely when we see ourselves as similar and/or the other person is of high status
• Modelling 


  The demonstration of a behaviour by a model that may be imitated by a learner/observer
• Classical conditioning 


  Learning through association, occurring when stimuli are presented together
• Operant conditioning 


  Learning through consequences, reinforcement increases the likelihood of repeating behaviour, whereas punishment decreases the likelihood of repeating
• Vicarious reinforcement 


  A form of indirect learning where we are more likely to perform a behaviour if we have seen others rewarded for doing it
• Mediational processes 


  Cognitive factors that influence learning, Including:

  • Attention
  • Retention
  • motor reproduction ability
  • Motivation

  These occur between observation of a stimulus and our response
• Process of social learning (Mediation processes)

  1. Adult models some sort of behaviour
  2. Child pays attention to modelled behaviour (Attention)
  3. Child processes it and its consequences in order to form a mental representation of it (Retention)
  4. Child has remembered the behaviour and now think about whether they have the ability to actually perform it (Motor reproduction ability)
  5. The child has learned the behaviour and can perform it, however, they now must want to reproduce it (Motivation)
  6. the child imitates behaviour
• The Bobo doll study - Albert Bandura

  Tested 36 boys and 36 girls aged 3-6

  Pre-tested children by observing the children in the nursery and judging their aggressive behaviour so they could be matched across groups (Inter-Rater reliability r=0.89)

  Lab experiment with matched pairs design

  • Aggressive model shown to 24 children
  • Non-aggressive model shown to 24 children
  • No model shown to 24 children

  The children were put in a room for 20 minutes and their behaviour was observed
• The Bobo doll study - Albert Bandura

  Children who observed the aggressive model made significantly more aggressive responses than those who were in the non aggressive control group

  Boys imitated more physically aggressive behaviour than girls
• Assumption - Causes of behaviour

  Behaviour is learnt directly (CC/OC) or indirectly (Observation and role models)

  Mental processes occur between stimuli and response and decisions are made about whether to imitate
• Assumption - Scientific Method

  Psychology is a science and should use experimental/observational studies involving controlled conditions
• Assumptions - Free Will

  the individual is not a passive receiver of learning

  Cognition, behaviour and environment all influence one another (reciprocal determinism)
• Strength - Applications 


  Useful for understanding the impact of violence and aggression in the media

  Useful for advertising that could target healthy behaviours - influence, models

  • Andsager (2006) - similarity to a model improved anti-alcohol campaigns
  • Ulrich (2003) - demonstrated value of SLT in explaining criminality
• Evaluation - Reductionism 


  More complete explanation than other approaches, eg behavioural, cognitive

  No holistic still missing perspectives (biological)
• Evaluation - Scientific 


  Over-reliance on lab studies - children could display demand characteristics - the purpose of the doll was to be striked so children could just be following what they think they should be doing

  Empirical - Comes from direct observation and evidence