Social learning theory

• What is social learning theory?

  A way of explaining behaviour proposed by Bandura that includes both direct and indirect inforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.

  • Bandura recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave aggressively towards a Bobo doll e.g. hitting it with a hammer.
  • When later observed, the children behaved much more aggressively towards the toys they played with in comparison to a control group.
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour - imitation will occur if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished.
• What is modelling?

  Imitating the behaviour of a role model (observer’s perspective) or the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour (role model’s perspective).
• What are mediational processes?

  Cognitive factors (thinking) that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
• What are the 4 mediational processes identified by Bandura?

  1. Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours.
  2. Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered.
  3. Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
  4. Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

  • first two relate to the learning of behaviour
  • last two relate to the performance of behaviour
• What is identification?

  When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like them.

  • The process of imitating a role model is called modelling.
• How does someone become a role model?

  • A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer or are attractive and have high status.
  • They may not necessarily be physically present in the environment, and this has important implications for the influence of media on behaviour.
• Evaluate a strength of the social learning theory

  Recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning.

  • Neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own.
  • Humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgments about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions.
  • This suggests that social learning theory provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes.
• Evaluate a limitation of the social learning theory

  Evidence it is based on was gathered through lab studies (Bobo doll research).

  • Many of Bandura’s ideas were developed through observation of young children’s behaviour in the lab.
  • Lab studies are often criticised for their contrived nature where participants may respond to demand characteristics.
  • This suggests that the research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
• Evaluate a strength of the social learning theory

  Real-world application.

  • Social learning theory has the advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour.
  • Its principles e.g. modelling, imitation and reinforcement, can account for how children learn from others around them, including the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies.