Social Learning Theory

• SLT is different to Behaviourism as it takes into account the cognitive aspect of behaviour.
• The term ’Social Learning Theory’ was introduced by Bandura in the 1960s.
• Bandura’s 1961 study into imitation of aggression involved showing children aggressive and non aggressive models.
• Half of the children in the study were exposed to aggressive adult models with bobo dolls and the other half non aggressive models with bobo dolls.
• In the second stage of the experiment the children were shown a room of toys which they could not play with to frustrate them.
• Children who were show the aggressive models were more physically and verbally aggressive to the bobo doll than the children whop had viewed the non aggressive models.
• The c hildren after being rejected from the first toy room were introduced to a second room full of toys, including a bobo doll.
• About 1/3 of the children who observed the aggressive models repeated the model’s verbal responses.
• Modelling - Someone who is carrying out the behaviour that will be imitated.
• Identification - The further the individual relates to the model the more likely they are to imitate the behaviour.
• Imitation - The behaviour that is seen in the model is copied by the individual.
• Vicarious reinforcement - Through watching someone else be reinforced through behaviours you are more likely to imitate that behaviour yourself.
• Mediational Process:

  1. Attention - the behaviour must grab the attention of the individual.
  2. Retention - the behaviour must be remembered.
  3. Reproduction - if it is possible for the individual to perform the behaviour
  4. Motivation - whether the individual has the will to perform the behaviour.
• Stregnths:

  • Practical applications - increased our understanding of human behaviour (Akers 1998 study suggests that it is more likely that someone who has observed models committing crimes then they are more likely to commit them themselves.
  • Research support - Bandura.
• Weakness:

  • Problems with causality - not everyone who views the same model will act the same way.
  • Reductionist - fails to recognise biological factors.