Social learning theory

• What are the assumptions of social learning theory?

  that people learn through association and imitation of others and it happens directly and indirectly.
• what is vicarious reinforcement?

  Indirect way of learning

  occurs through observation of someone else being reinforced for a behaviour

  key factor in imitation
• What are mediational processes?

  cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response
• What are the 4 mediational processes?

  attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours

  retention - how well the behaviour is remembered

  motor reproduction - ability for observer to perform the behaviour

  motivation - the will to perform the behaviour which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
• What is modelling?

  imitating the behaviours of of a role model
• what is imitation?

  copying the behaviours of others?
• what is identification?

  when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model
• what is a role model?

  a person becomes a role model when they are seen to have similar characteristics to the observer and are attractive and have a high status.

  May not be physically present in the environment and this has physical implications for the influence of the media on behavour
• give one strength and a counterargument?

  recognises the importance of cognitive functions in learning

  classical and operant conditioning offer an adequate account of learning

  humans and animals store information about behaviour of others abd use it to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions

  SLT provdies more comprehensive explanation

  counterargument = too little inference on biological factors as mirror neurons may play a part.
• give one strength?

  real world application

  explains cultural differences

  SLT principles like modelling, imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn including the media

  explains how cultural norms are transmitted

  understanding behaviours like how children come to understand gender role

  increases the value of the approach