Social Learning Theory

• What is behaviorism classed as?


  A learning theory
• How do we learn according to behaviorism?


  Through stimuli response mechanisms
• What happens when we experience a reward for our behavior?


  We are more likely to repeat it
• What is the effect of punishment on behavior?

  It likely stops the behavior
• Do we need to experience rewards and punishments ourselves to learn?

  No, we can learn by observing others
• Who is a prominent social learning theorist mentioned?

  Albert Bandura
• What is social learning theory based on?

  Learning through observation of others
• What do social learning theorists include that behaviorists reject?

  Internal mental processes
• What are the defining features of social learning theory?

  • Learning occurs through observation
  • Models influence behavior
  • Includes cognitive processes
  • Vicarious reinforcement and punishment
• What is the Bobo Doll Experiment?

  A study on modeling aggressive behavior
• What age group participated in Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment?

  Children aged three to six
• What did children observe in the aggressive model group?

  An adult using physical and verbal aggression
• What was the outcome for children who observed aggressive models?


  They were more likely to be aggressive
• How did boys respond to male versus female aggressive models?

  Boys imitated male models more
• What did Bandura's 1963 variation study demonstrate?

  Symbolic models are also imitated
• What was the focus of Bandura's 1965 study?

  The power of vicarious reinforcement and punishment
• What did Bandura find regarding children who observed punishment?

  They were less aggressive towards the doll
• What are the strengths of Bandura's Bobo Doll study?

  • High internal validity
  • Controlled environment
  • Matched participant design
• What are the weaknesses of Bandura's Bobo Doll study?

  • Lacks external validity
  • Short-term effects only
  • Limited generalizability to real life
• What is a criticism of social learning theory regarding mediational factors?

  They cannot be directly observed
• How does social learning theory compare to behaviorism?

  It offers a more detailed understanding
• What is reciprocal determinism?

  Behavior influences the environment and vice versa
• How does a child’s hard work affect their environment according to reciprocal determinism?

  It leads to praise and better grades
• What are the implications of social learning theory for education?

  • Importance of role models
  • Use of vicarious reinforcement
  • Encouraging positive behaviors through observation
• What is the aim of Bandura's research?

  To demonstrate modeling and imitation concepts
• What does social learning theory argue about human behavior?

  It is a cognitive process in a social context
• How do social learning theorists view the role of models?

  Models act as influences for behavior
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Learning by observing others rewarded
• What is the role of attention in the mediational processes?

  It is necessary to reproduce a behavior
• Why is retention important in the mediational processes?

  It allows memory of the behavior
• What does reproduction refer to in the mediational processes?

  Thinking about performing the observed behavior
• How does motivation influence behavior reproduction?

  It determines the desire to perform the behavior
• What is the difference between learning and performance in social learning theory?

  Learning can occur without immediate performance
• How does Bandura's research support social learning theory?

  It demonstrates modeling and imitation concepts
• What is the significance of the controlled environment in Bandura's study?

  It enhances internal validity
• What does ecological validity refer to in Bandura's study?

  The generalizability of findings to real life
• What is a limitation of using inferences in social learning theory?

  They may not accurately reflect behavior
• How does social learning theory explain complex behaviors?

  By considering consciousness and rationality
• What is the role of consciousness in social learning theory?

  It influences how behaviors are learned
• How does reciprocal determinism differ from simple environmental determinism?

  It includes mutual influence between behavior and environment