Social learning theory

• Albert Bandura proposed the social learning theory as a development of the behaviourist approach because he argued that classical and operant conditioning could not account for all human learning
• Basic assumptions:

  • Bandura agreed with behaviourists that much of out behaviour is learnt from experience, however his SLT proposed a different way in which people learn
  • He suggested people learn through observation and imitation of role models in a social context
• Modelling - this is when a role model shows and demonstrates the behaviour and when someone sees a person modelling they learn
• Vicarious reinforcement

  When we see the model being rewarded for their behaviour which makes us even more likely to copy it as we think we will get the same rewards
• Vicarious punishment

  When we see the role model being punished for their behaviour this makes us less likely to copy it
• Identification

  People are much more likely to imitate the behaviour of people with whom they identify called role models.

  A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics (age, sex) to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status

  Typically, same sex parents, peers and powerful models become immediate role models
• Mental processing

  SLT argues that humans undergo some mental processing between stimulus and response.

  It can also explain why a response can come later and does not have to happen at the same time as the stimulus known as meditational processes
• Mediational processes:

  • Attention - someone can only reproduce behaviour accurately if they attend the models behaviour
  • Retention - to model the behaviour it needs to be remembered and placed into the LTM, this enables to behaviour to be retrieved
  • Imitation - the observer must posses the physical capabilities required for the modelled behaviour
  • An individual expects to receive positive reinforcement for using the behaviour
• Bandura study

  One group of children see an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a bobo doll.

  The adult his the doll with a hammer and been verbally aggressive

  Another group of children see a non-aggressive adult playing with the bobo doll.

  When these children were later observed playing with bobo doll the group with the aggressive model behaved much more aggressively than the others
• AO3 - meditational process

  Takes into account meditational processes such as rationality and consciousness which can't be demonstrated by animal research and was therefore ignored by behaviourist approach.

  These are seen as important by many psychologists suggesting it may give a better explanation of behaviour
• AO3 - it is supported by many pieces of research including bandora studies this suggests it is a valid theory
• AO3 - real world

  It can explain much behaviour in the real world such as aggression, prosocial behaviour, treatment of mental disorders which suggests its a useful theory
• AO3 - cultural differences

  It can explain cultural differences in behaviour due to observation of different behaviours which makes it a more generalisable theory
• AO3 - lab studies

  Most of the research that supports SLT is based on lab studies which means the evidence may be artificial and so difficult to generalise to everyday life. This therefore suggests that the theory may not be ecologically valid
• AO3 - environmentally deterministic

  SLT is environmentally deterministic as it assumes behaviour is learned through the environment over which we have little control.

  Although it does allow for some free will with the meditational factors - soft determinism
• AO3- supports nurture

  It assumes behaviour is caused by the environment and experience, it therefore ignores the role of biological factors such as genetics