Social learning theory

• History of psychology social learning theory - Bandura 


  -In 1960's, around the same time as the cognitive revolution

  -Bandura proposed social learning theory. SLT looks at way we imitate role models and how this has an impact on our behaviour

  -Most SLT research is conducted in labs in scientific, controlled conditions
• Acquisition of pro social behaviours and norms - AO1 


  -Bandura proposed SLT, the main principles of which state that a child learns vicariously by observing the actions and consequences of actions of role models and then goes on to imitate these role models

  -Bandura claims that children are more likely to imitate pro social behaviour because this is the behaviour that they are likely to be rewarded for performing.

  -Pro social behaviour is socially acceptable and encouraged as it fits into societal norms
• Identification- 


  Children are more likely to identify with models who are similar to them, particularly same sex models.

  Identification with a model means that the individual is more likely to imitate their behaviour, meaning that social learning is more likely to be effective.
• Vicarious reinforcement- 


  Concept of vicarious reinforcement suggests that individuals do not need to experience rewards or punishments directly in order to learn.

  Instead, they can observe the consequences experienced by a model and then making judgements as to experiencing these outcomes themselves
• Who is a child more likely to imitate? 


  -Same sex role model

  -Similar in age

  -Powerful/influential, such as celebs

  -Real rather than a cartoon

  -Consequences of model's behaviour
• Bobo doll study- 


  -Conducted a series of experiments to study how children learned to behave aggressively. Took place at Yale University on the children of academics

  -In his basic procedure, children saw an adult behave aggressively, both verbally + physically, towards a large inflatable doll, called the Bobo doll.

  -Observers found that children who saw an aggressive model reproduced more of the aggressive acts than children who saw a non aggressive model.

  -Children showed more imitation of same sex models and boys more aggressive then girls
• Bobo doll study part 2 - 


  -Noted that boys will imitate aggressive behaviour more readily then girls and both sexes will copy the behaviour of adults than that of children

  -His research confirmed his belief that children learn from their social environment, which provides models of behaviour as well as expectations of appropriate behaviour.

  -Key process of SLT are observation, imitation and reinforcement
• Strength (supporting evidence)- 


  -Supporting evidence for the importance of identification in social learning of health matters

  -Andsager found that the perceived similarity to a model in an anti-alcohol advertisement was positively related to the messages effectiveness.

  -This demonstrates the importance of identification with role models as suggested by Bandura
• Limitation (Cognitive mediational process) - 


  -Cognitive mediational processes need to be inferred and cannot be directly measured. Bandura's description of the cognitive processes is rather vague.

  -We are therefore unable to test or verify the role of mediational processes in SLT
• Strength + weakness (Adults) -

  -However, SLT research is mainly conducted on children and rarely investigates adult behaviour

  -However, Phillips (1986) found that following major boxing matches in US that homicide rates increased.

  -Demonstrates that adults are also influenced by role models
• Strength (explain aggression in cultures) -

  -Used to explain aggression in all cultures as it states we learn by observing and imitating the social world around us

  -Example: Kung San tribe where very little or no evidence of violence ar all. It's suggested that this is put down to child rearing practices as parents do not punish bad behaviour but seek to distract their childs attention onto something else

  -Would suggest that we do (or dont) learn aggression by imitating role models
• Negative criticism (Biological explanations) - 


  -SLT doesn't take any biological explanations of aggression into account.

  -Lavine found increased levels of dopamine activity were associated with increased aggressive behaviour.

  -Additionally, Pillay found that levels of testosterone were positively correlated with levels of aggression.

  -It can't explain innate behaviours such as Palmar grasp reflex and rooting behaviour in infants