Social Learning Theory

• What does Social Learning Theory assume about mental processes?

  Mental processes are important in learning behavior
• What are the steps in Bandura's experiment with the Bobo doll?

  1. Adult model demonstrates aggression
  2. Child observes the aggressive behavior
  3. Child processes the observed behavior
  4. Child demonstrates the observed behaviors
• What does Bandura argue about how people learn?

  People learn via conditioning and imitation
• What is cognitive mediation in Bandura's theory?

  Humans process stimuli before responding
• What are the mediational processes in Social Learning Theory represented by ARRM?

  • Attention: Pay attention to behavior
  • Retention: Remember what you saw
  • Reproduction: Judge ability to reproduce behavior
  • Motivation: Evaluate consequences of behavior
• What is required for social learning to occur?

  A model must demonstrate the behavior
• What are the types of models in Social Learning Theory?

  • Live models: Parents, teachers
  • Symbolic models: Celebrities, characters
• What is imitation in the context of Social Learning Theory?

  Imitation is observing and reproducing behavior
• How does imitation compare to conditioning in learning behavior?

  Imitation allows quicker learning than conditioning
• What factors influence whether observers replicate a model's behavior?

  Model's characteristics and observed consequences
• What is identification in Social Learning Theory?

  Relating to a model to learn better
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Learning by observing model's consequences
• What are the strengths of Social Learning Theory?

  • Useful applications to real-life behaviors
  • Prosocial behavior can be modeled
  • Health campaigns can illustrate negative habits
  • Justifies watershed regulations on TV content
• What are the strengths of Bandura's experiment?

  • Conducted in controlled environments
  • Increases internal validity of results
• What are the limitations of Social Learning Theory?

  • Simplistic, ignores other influences
  • Neglects genetic factors
  • Demand characteristics may affect behavior
• What does it mean when participants exhibit demand characteristics?

  Participants change behavior based on experiment's purpose