Social learning theory

• What is the social learning theory?

  Form of learning behaviours through imitation, observation and watching people get consequences because of their behaviours
• What is the aim of the BOBO Doll experiment?

  To investigate if behaviours can be acquired by observation and imitation
• Summarise the BOBO Doll experiment part 1

  • A group of 24 children watched an adult perform aggressive behaviour and the other group watched an adult perform non-aggressive behaviour
  • Groups where divided into groups of girls and groups of boys
  • Half of the groups where exposed to a same sex model perform the aggressive behaviour the other half opposite sex model
• Summarise the experiment part 2


  • Individually taken to a play room where a model was physically and verbally abusing a BOBO Doll
  • Individually the children where taken to another play room to play with toys and then they were told 2 mins later they cant play with the toys
  • Taken to another playroom with a BOBO Doll and play hammers and bats but also other toys like crayons this behaviour was observed
• Explain the results of the experiment

  • Boys were more aggressive than girls
  • Boys exposed to a male model were more aggressive than the ones exposed to a female model
  • Children exposed to the violent model tended to imitate this behaviour
• What are the key concepts of the social learning theory?

  Modelling - Observer imitates the models behaviour or model demonstrates the behaviour

  Observation - Observer is actively watching the behaviours of others

  Imitation - Learner copies the behaviours of the model(more likely to happen if they identify with the model)

  Vicarious learning - Observing a models behaviour being reinforced
• What are the strengths of the social learning theory?

  • helps us understand how aggressive behaviour can be reduced
  • Explains how children learn aggressive behaviours
  • Found out that children are more likely to imitate a models behaviour if they are being reinforced (rewarded)
• What are the weaknesses of the social learning theory?

  • Not a complete explanation of learning - role of genetic factors as studies show aggression is similar in identical twins - (kendler et al)
  • Banduras experiment is carried out in controlled lab conditions and not in real life situations