Social learning theory

• What is the social learning theory?

  People learn by observing others behaviours and then imitating these behaviours.
• What are the 4 steps of the social learning theory?

  1 Behaviour is modelled by role model.

  2 Observer identifies with role model.

  3 Behaviour is observed and noted.

  4 Behaviour is imitated.
• What is a real life example of the social learning theory?

  James Bulger case.
• What is vicarious learning?

  Where learning occurs indirectly through others being reinforced.
• What are the conditions for effective modelling?

  Attention, retention, motor reproduction (being able to replicate), motivation.
• What is self-efficacy?

  Individuals belief that they are capable of executing certain behaviour.
• Who developed the social learning theory and the Bobo doll?

  Bandura
• What was the aim of the bobo doll experiment?

  To see if children learnt through observation, imitation and reinforcement.
• What were the control variables of the bobo doll experiment?

  Research on children's aggression before hand, same toys available, standardised behaviours for models.
• What were the 5 results of the bobo doll experiment?

  1 Watching aggressive models had greater effect on boys than girls.

  2 If there was an aggressive model they displayed more direct imitation.

  3 Male models had more influence.

  4 Boys and girls performed more non-imitative behaviour when the model was same sex.

  5 Boys more likely to imitate same sex models.
• What is reciprocal determinism?

  The idea that we influence the environment through behaviours we choose to perform.
• What is a demand characteristic?

  A cue from the researcher that may reveal the purpose of the research.
• What are the strengths of the social learning theory?

  Controls make it more valid, Clear practical apllications (effect of violent films), Lab method is well-controlled, Observational methods (watched and recorded, inter-rater reliablity).
• What are the social learning weaknesses?

  Low ecological validity as there was no parents and the actions of the model wasn't punished, Artificial setting as as model was a stranger, Lack of generalisability, Possibility of demand characteristics.