Social learning theory

• Who proposed the social learning theory (SLT)?

  Bandura
• What does social learning theory refine from behaviorism?

  It refines the idea that people are shaped by their environment to include how they learn from others
• How do children learn according to social learning theory?

  Children learn via observation, imitation, and social contexts
• Who are considered role models in social learning theory?

  Parents, teachers, older siblings, and celebrities
• What qualities do role models typically possess?

  They are often older, influential figures with high status or desirable qualities
• How might a child imitate behavior observed at home?

  A child may imitate domestic violence by bullying at school
• What increases the likelihood of a child imitating a role model's behavior?

  Identification with the role model or having similar characteristics
• What type of reinforcement is emphasized in social learning theory?

  Vicarious reinforcement
• How does vicarious reinforcement work in social learning theory?

  A child observes a role model being rewarded for a behavior and is motivated to imitate it
• How does vicarious reinforcement highlight the sophistication of social learning theory compared to behaviorism?

  It involves cognitive processing of observed behaviors and imagined rewards
• What are the mediational processes in social learning theory?

  Attention, Retention, Reproduction, Motivation (ARRM)
• What does 'Attention' refer to in the mediational processes?

  Noticing the behavior and being aware of it
• What does 'Retention' involve in the mediational processes?

  Remembering the behavior and the mechanisms involved
• What does SLT stand for in psychology?

  Social Learning Theory
• What is meant by 'Reproduction' in the mediational processes?

  Imitating the behavior and reproducing key features of it
• How does SLT differ from behaviourism in explaining behaviour?

  SLT provides a more rounded explanation of how the environment shapes behaviour
• What does 'Motivation' refer to in the mediational processes?

  The desire to perform the behavior and the need to be rewarded for it
• Why is SLT considered less reductionist than behaviourism?

  Because it incorporates mediational processes that allow for individual choice
• Can learning and performance of behavior occur at different times?

  Yes, aggression observed may not be performed until later in a different setting
• What does it mean that SLT is less deterministic than behaviourism?

  It implies that individuals have some choice over their behaviour
• How is SLT applied in prison or health settings?

  Through the use of token economies to reward good behaviour
• What is the purpose of rewarding prisoners or patients with tokens?

  To encourage good behaviour
• What are the key components of the mediational processes in social learning theory (ARRM)?

  • Attention: Noticing the behavior
  • Retention: Remembering the behavior
  • Reproduction: Imitating the behavior
  • Motivation: Desire to perform the behavior
• How does observing fellow prisoners or patients receiving rewards affect others?

  It encourages good behaviour from others
• What is the overall concept behind social learning theory?

  • Children learn through observation of role models
  • Imitation of behaviors observed
  • Learning occurs in social contexts, not innately
• What does good external validity mean in the context of SLT?

  It means the theory can be applied to real-world settings
• What is a limitation of SLT regarding behaviours that are frequently observed?

  SLT cannot account for behaviours that are observed frequently but not imitated
• What example illustrates SLT's limitation in explaining behaviour?

  A child who frequently observes domestic violence may never be violent
• Why does SLT offer a limited explanation of behaviour?

  Because it does not acknowledge the role of individual differences
• What type of research is commonly associated with SLT?

  Lab experiments
• Why is the use of lab experiments a limitation for SLT?

  Because lab conditions cannot replicate real-life social contexts
• What does ecological validity refer to in the context of SLT research?

  It refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-life settings
• Who conducted the research on social learning theory in 1961?

  Bandura
• What was the main aim of Bandura's study?

  To investigate the effect of observed aggression on children's behaviour
• What was the second aim of Bandura's study?

  To investigate the effect of same-sex modelling on children's aggressive behaviour
• How many participants were involved in Bandura's study?

  72 participants
• How many girls participated in the study?

  36 girls
• How many boys participated in the study?

  36 boys
• What was the age range of the children in the study?

  Aged between 37-69 months
• Where were the children taken from for the study?

  Stanford University nursery