social learning theory

• social learning theory

  a way of explaining behaviour that include both direct and indirect reinforcement, combines learning theory with cognitive factors.
• what is imitation?

  copying the behaviour of others
• what is identification?

  when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
• what is modelling?

  observers perspective - imitating the behaviour of the role model.

  role models perspective - the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.
• what is vicarious reinforcement?

  reinforcement that is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour.

  (think about someone living ‘vicariously’ through someone else)
• what are mediational processes?

  cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
• what are the 4 mediational processes ?


  attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation.
• what is attention ?

  the extent to which we notice certain behaviours. relates to the learning g of behaviour.
• what is retention ?

  how well the behaviour is remembered. relates to the learning of behaviour.
• what is motor reproduction ?

  the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour. relates to the performance of behaviour.
• what is motivation ?

  the will to perform the behaviour, often determined by weather the behaviour was rewarded or punished. relates to the performance of behaviour.
• what are the assumptions of social learning theory?

  -people learn through observation and imitation of others.

  -suggests learning occurs directly (classical and operant conditioning) and indirectly
• explain banduras research? (study A) (1961)

  • (group 1) children observed an adult behaving aggressively towards a BoBo doll.
  • later when the children were playing and they behaved aggressively towards the BoBo doll and other toys.
  • (group 2) children observed a non aggressive adult playing with a BoBo doll.
  • later when they were playing they were much less aggressive than the 1st group.
• explain bandura + richard walters research? (study B)

  (1963)

  • 3 groups of children, all groups saw the adult behaving aggressively.
  • group 1 saw the aggressive adult praised for its behaviour.
  • group 2 saw the aggressive adult punished for its behaviour.
  • group 3 (control group) saw no consequence for the behaviour of the adult.
  • when playing group 1 was most aggressive, group 2 was least aggressive and group 3 was in the middle.
• strengths of SLT (evaluation)

  + recognises importance of cognitive factors in learning: humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others, SLT is a more comprehensive explanation of human learning, mediational processes.

  + real world application: ability to explain cultural differences in behaviour, modelling and imitation and reinforcement shows how children learn from others, explains how cultural norms are transmitted, allows us to understand a wide range of behaviour, increases value of approach.
• limitations of SLT (evaluation)

  -not enough influence of biological factors: learning was determined by environment , biological factors under emphasised

  -contrived lab studies: lab studies produce demand characteristics , main purpose of a BoBo doll is to hit it so children may have just been behaving in a way they thought was expected , this research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.