social learning theory

• social learning theory 


  learning through observation
• what does the social learning theory recognise

  the importance of cognitive processes
• what does the social learning theory reflect on

  the notion that learning is purely the outcome of a stimuli response
• social learning theory 


  the view that behaviour can be explained in terms of direct and indirect reinforcement through imitation, identification and modelling
• modelling 


  a very common form learning in which the learner observes and then imitates a models actions
• imitation 


  this involves imitating or copying the actions of a model whose behaviour has been observed
• identification 


  similar to modelling , depends on the models characteristics and the behaviour produced can extend beyond imitation
• vicarious reinforcement 


  a situation in which the reinforcement or reward obtained by someone else has a reinforcing effect on one’s own behaviour
• 4 distinct mental processes

  • attention

  • retention

  • reproduction

  • motivation
• direct reinforcement

  they receive the consequence
• indirect reinforcement

  they see their model receive the consequence
• aim - bandura the bobo doll experiment to investigate whether aggression can be learned through social learning through principles
• result - bandura the bobo doll experiment

  children who saw the aggressive model produced more aggressive acts than those in either of the other two groups
• conclusion - bandura the bobo doll experiment

  aggressive behaviour can be learned in children, through observation and imitation of a model
• 3 groups in bandura the bobo doll experiment

  • aggressive model - adult showed at the bobo doll

  • non aggressive model - adult played quietly

  • control group - the child did not see a model
• strengths of SLT

  • plentiful research support

  • real world application
• weaknesses of SLT

  • banduras use of experimental labatory method in strictly controlled conditions has a possibility of demand characteristics

  • revolves around the issue of causality
• issues and debates

  • demonstrates a soft determinism

  • banduras research takes a nomothetic approach as he attempts to generate laws of behaviour which can be widely applied
• counterpoint to Banduras experiment

  • conducted in an artificial lab setting
  • raises concerns about ecological validity
  • not generalisable
• strength - real world application

  • Akers suggests that the probability of a person engaging in criminal behaviour increases if they see a model commit criminal behaviour
  • violence and criminal behaviour is strongly associated with SLT
• weakness - can ignore other factors

  • a child may be exposed to many different influences e.g. genetics
  • makes it difficult to show that SLT alone is having an impact on behaviour
• meditational processes

  the idea that observational learning could not occur unless cognitive processes were at work