Social Learning

• What are the key assumptions of the social learning theory?

  • we learn through observation and imitation of role models (environment)
  • we are more likely to imitate behaviour of role models with similar characteristics (identification)
  • behaviour is reinforced through vicarious reinforcement
  • SLT includes cognition of learning (ARMM)
• What is meant by identification in SLT?

  we are more likely to imitate behaviour of role models that share similar characteristics to us (e.g. same age/gender/race)
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  behaviour is more likely to be imitated if the behaviour is seen as rewarded (or opposite if punished) because we imitate in anticipation of same reward
• What are the mediational processes of the SLT?

  ARMM:

  Attention - learner must see the behaviour clearly + pay attention

  Retention - learner must remember the behaviour

  Motor Reproduction - learner must be able to replicate behaviour

  Motivation - learner must want to repeat behaviour
• What is a role model?

  anyone who is exhibiting the behaviour being observed
• What research has been done to investigate the SLT?

  Bobo doll experiment
• What was the aim of the bobo doll experiment?

  to investigate to what extent would children imitate violent behaviour towards a bobo doll
• What was the method in the bobo doll experiment?


  72 children split into 3 categories:

  • (A) violent behaviour
  • (B) non violent behaviour
  • (C) control/no role model

  role model would exhibit behaviour in front of children then the child was left alone in the room as behaviour was observed every 5 seconds for 20 minutes
• What were the findings from the bobo doll experiment?

  • children always repeated the behaviour that the role model exhibited
  • children were more likely to imitate role model if they were same gender
• What conclusions can be made from the bobo doll experiment?

  we learn through imitating others