Social learning theory (SLT)

• AO1 - The development of social learning theory

  Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory 

  as a development of the behaviourist approach.

  He argued that classical and operant conditioning 

  could not account for all human learning.

  He believed that there are important mental 

  processes that lie between the stimulus and 

  response proposed by the behaviourist approach.
• AO1 - Assumptions

  • It combines principles from the both behaviourist and the cognitive approaches.
  • It is concerned with human rather than animal behaviour.
  • SLT sees people as active manipulators of their own environment rather passive receivers of experiences. 

  Learning occurs through the observation of role models.
• AO1 - Assumptions

  • Observational learning can take place without any reinforcement – simply observing the model is sufficient for learning to take place
  • Reinforcement may be direct or indirect. (vicarious reinforcement)
  • Observational learning uses cognitive processes such as memory.  These processes occur between stimulus and response are known as mediational processes.
  • Much human behaviour is learned in interpersonal situations
• AO1 - Models

  There are two types of models: 

  • Live model – these are people who are present in our environment (teachers/parents/siblings, etc.)

  Symbolic models – these are people who are present in the media (e.g. celebrities) 
• AO1 - Modelling

  For modelling to occur, there must be identification with said model as well as:

  • Attention (noticing the behaviour)
  • Retention (remembering the behaviour)
  • Reproduction (it has to be physically possible)

  Motivation (there has to be a reason to want to copy the role-model)
•  AO1 - The Bobo doll study (1963) 

  Bandura’s experiment shows us that

  Mediating cognitive factors 

  (thinking essentially)

  must be intervening between observation and behaviour i.e. there is something in between stimulus and response
• AO1 - Vicarious reinforcement 

  Vicarious reinforcement is the 

  process of acquiring behaviours

  by observing the consequences

  that somebody else receives.
• (+) emphasis on the importance of cognitive factors in learning

  Unlike the behaviourist approach, SLT believes that cognitive factors are important. Humans store info about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions

  SLT provides a more complete 

  explanation of learning by recognising

  the role of mediational processes
• (+) take into account cultural differences in behaviour

  SLT can help to understand how children learn from other people around them, as well as though the media and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted. This has helped to understand a range of behavioural such as how children come to understand their gender role by imitating models.

  In contrast, the biological approach can only explain universal behaviours because human biological processes do not change with culture.
• (-) ignores biological factors

  Bandura makes little reference to the impact of biological factors on social learning. Boys in the bobo doll experiments were consistently more aggressive than girls regardless of condition. This may be explained by hormonal factors like testosterone, which is linked to increased aggression. This is not accounted for within SLT.