social learning theory

• What is behaviorism classed as?

  Behaviorism is classed as a learning theory.
• How do we learn according to behaviorism?

  We learn due to stimuli response mechanisms through interaction with our environment.
• What happens when we experience a reward for our behavior?

  We are more likely to repeat the behavior to gain the reward again.
• What is the effect of punishment on behavior?


  Punishment is likely to stop us from repeating a behavior.
• What question do social learning theorists like Albert Bandura ask regarding learning?

  Do we need to experience rewards and punishments ourselves to learn?
• What do social learning theorists argue about learning?

  They argue that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context.
• Who is the most prominent social learning theorist?

  Albert Bandura
• What is the Bobo Doll Experiment?

  It is a study conducted by Bandura to demonstrate modeling and imitation in children.
• What did Bandura find regarding children who observed aggressive models?

  Children who observed aggressive models were more likely to be aggressive themselves.
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Vicarious reinforcement occurs when we observe someone being rewarded for their behavior.
• What are mediational processes in social learning theory?

  Mediational processes are cognitive processes that occur between observing a behavior and imitating it.
• What are the four mediational processes in social learning theory?

  • Attention: Paying full attention to the behavior.
  • Retention: Retaining a memory of the behavior.
  • Reproduction: Assessing if one can perform the behavior.
  • Motivation: Considering the potential rewards or punishments.
• How does social learning theory differ from behaviorism regarding learning and performance?

  In social learning theory, learning and performance are not the same; learning can be internalized for later use.
• What did Bandura's research aim to demonstrate?

  Bandura's research aimed to demonstrate social learning concepts of modeling and imitation.
• What was the outcome of Bandura's 1963 variation study?

  Children showed similar levels of aggression regardless of whether they watched an aggressive adult, a recording, or a cartoon.
• What did Bandura find in his 1965 study regarding vicarious reinforcement and punishment?

  Children who observed an adult being punished were less aggressive towards the Bobo doll.
• What are the strengths of Bandura's Bobo Doll study?

  • High internal validity due to controlled environment.
  • Used matched pairs design to control for participant variables.
  • Demonstrated key concepts of social learning theory.
• What are the weaknesses of Bandura's Bobo Doll study?

  • Lacks external validity; findings may not generalize to real-life situations.
  • Short-term effects of social learning may not reflect long-term behavior.
  • Relies on inferences about mediational factors, which cannot be directly observed.
• How does social learning theory provide a more detailed understanding of human behavior compared to behaviorism?

  Social learning theory considers the role of consciousness and rationality in behavior.
• What is reciprocal determinism according to Bandura?

  Reciprocal determinism is the idea that behavior is influenced by the environment and vice versa.
• What is the significance of identifying with models in social learning theory?

  We are more likely to imitate models with similar characteristics, such as gender and age.
• What is the role of symbolic models in social learning theory?

  Symbolic models are behaviors modeled in the media, like characters from movies and books.
• What is the importance of attention in the mediational processes?

  Attention is crucial for reproducing a behavior as it requires careful observation.
• Why is retention important in the mediational processes?

  Retention is important because it ensures that the memory of the behavior is kept for reproduction.
• How does motivation influence the likelihood of reproducing a behavior?

  Motivation influences reproduction by considering potential rewards or punishments associated with the behavior.
• What does it mean if a mediational process is missing?

  If any mediational process is missing, the behavior will not be imitated.
• How does social learning theory explain the internalization of learned behaviors?

  Social learning theory explains that behaviors can be internalized for later use, not requiring immediate imitation.
• What is the role of the environment in reciprocal determinism?

  The environment is influenced by our behavior, creating a feedback loop.
• What does Bandura's research suggest about the influence of gender on aggression imitation?

  Bandura's research suggests boys are more likely to imitate aggression from male models than female models.
• What is the significance of the controlled environment in Bandura's study?

  The controlled environment enhances the internal validity of the study's findings.
• How does social learning theory address complex behaviors like aggression?

  Social learning theory provides a better explanation of complex behaviors by considering cognitive processes.
• What is the implication of the lack of direct observation in social learning theory?

  The lack of direct observation means social learning theory is not as scientific as behaviorism.
• How does social learning theory differ from behaviorism in terms of determinism?

  Social learning theory argues for reciprocal determinism, where behavior and environment influence each other.